STUDENTS at a Sunderland school have been learning a valuable environmental lesson.

The Youth Litter Campaign roadshow visited Washington Technology College to raise awareness about the impact of rubbish on the environment.

Groups from the school's Eco team and geography department were invited on board the Eco Bus to take part in quizzes and surveys, to find out just how environmentally friendly they are.

The campaign is backed by the Tidy Britain Group and is part of the Government's "Are You Doing Your Bit?" environmental campaign.

The college's head of geography, Oliver Harness, said: "We want to teach pupils that dropping litter is not only disrespectful to the environment, but also disrespectful to themselves and each other.

"Many of our students are interested in the environment and we have Eco teams of pupils helping our efforts to keep everything clean and tidy in school and the surrounding neighbourhoods."

Their work has already earned the college accreditation from the Tidy Britain Group as an Eco School.

Helen Douglas, regional communications officer for the group, said: "The roadshow at Washington school goes hand-in-hand with the continued efforts of Sunderland City Council in promoting environmental education in schools across the city.

"We very much support initiatives like this, which are essential if we want to turn our children into responsible citizens who feel a valued part of their community."