GREEN-FINGERED primary school children are celebrating their achievements after 18 months of hard work.

St Catherine's RC Primary School in Lowton - part of Leigh Education Action Zone - is the 12th school in the borough to receive the Green Flag award and unveiled a plaque to mark the year's achievements.

Green Flag status is the top award in the European Eco-schools Programme, and is awarded by the Tidy Britain Group to promote environmental education in schools.

Assessors from the group visited and approved the school's efforts at the end of last week's eco-week.

Headteacher Elizabeth Connolly said: "Being an eco-school is very much part of who we are at St Catherine's now. We are all very proud of what we have achieved this year."

In the past three years, pupils have worked hard to raise money for the project so they could succeed in all seven strands of the programme, which include focus on school grounds, transport, healthy living, litter and recycling.

Through entering regional and national competitions, the school won about £4,000 from Renault UK, Mattel Toys, The Environment Agency and the Southport Flower Show. This money enabled the school to work on a partially match-funded basis with Wigan's People and Places.

Developments include butterfly and sensory gardens, seating and shade for pupils and a sculpture trail around the grounds.

The school received sponsorship from Leigh firm Peter Miles Engineering, which helped provide bike racks so children can cycle to school.

B&Q, of Newton-le-Willows, donated picnic tables, hanging baskets and a shed for the school gardening club.

Eco-schools co-ordinator Catherine Littlewood said: "Everyone is delighted with the improvements. We see the work as just the beginning and are looking forward to starting phase two of our work in September." DETERMINED: St Catherine's RC Primary School gardening club members Josh Pantak, Adam Russell, Robbie Draper and Samantha Dunn dig deep

Story: Page 8 STEP BY STEP: St Catherine's pupils Lauren Gavin, 11, and Chloe Brown, 11, create mosaic stepping stones ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY: A hedgehog is part of a sculpture trail lMore pictures and Education Action Zone reports: Page 15