PRIMARY school pupils have created a new outdoor 'eco classroom' in a bid to raise awareness of plastic pollution.

Youngsters at St Mary's RC Primary School in Clayton-le-Moors spent a year saving up more than 3,000 plastic bottles to help build their classroom.

In total two tonnes of plastic was used to make 'eco bricks' which involves putting spare plastic into plastic bottles and using them to build tables and seats.

With the help of the Global Catholic Climate Movement, pupils also built an eco-friendly vegetable patch, which will grow items to donate to homeless charities.

More than 600 eco bricks were used to create a beach hut which was delivered to Brighton beach and is set to come back to the school to take its place in the classroom.

Michael Mashiter, the school's headteacher, said: "The pupils have spent a year on this project and I am extremely impressed with how it has turned out.

"It's important to get recycling and reducing the carbon footprint into children's minds at a very young age as they will go onto keep up their work as they grow older.

"It's a fun, interactive and different way of teaching the children about the environment and getting the children outside into the fresh air is another positive.

"We have managed to stop two tonnes of plastic waste going into the environment."

The Bishop of Salford, the right rev John Arnold, was invited to the opening ceremony and was shown around the classroom by pupils.

Parents were also invited to the ceremony.

Bob Turner, from the Global Catholic Climate Movement, who played a big part in the building of the classroom, said: "Reducing our carbon footprint is vital for the sustainability of our future so its important to get this across to the children.

"They are learning about their own carbon footprint.

"I would invite everyone to look at their own carbon footprint and see if they can reduce it in someway."

Mr Mashiter added: "We were so proud of our pupils and Mr John was full of praise for them and what the children and staff have achieved here."