Pupils at an Oxford school are learning environmental tips and putting waste materials to good use.

Schoolchildren at West Oxford Primary School in Ferry Hinksey Road wanted to recycle and asked their city councillor Susanna Pressel for help.

She arranged for the school to receive a compost bin for waste collection.

Pupil Georgina Wines said: "My family used to throw away three big bags of rubbish every week -- now they recycle half the bags." The school's head teacher, Julie St Clair Hoare, said the children had come up with the idea and organised the project themselves.

"This is an example of democracy in action," she said.

"It's good to see a practical project bearing fruit quite quickly."