PUPILS planted trees given to their school to mark the recycling achievements of people in Hartlepool.

The children from St John Vianney RC Primary School planted the saplings in their grounds under the supervision of Clare Belcher, Hartlepool Council's Recycling Officer.

She said: "The school's grounds are quite open and these 26 trees will, in time, provide some much-needed cover and improve the local environment. I would like to thank everyone across Hartlepool who has recycled aluminium cans and foil and earned us these trees as a reward."

The trees, including oak, rowan, ash, beech and birch,were given to the council by the Aluminium Packaging Recycling Organisation (Alupro) as part of a nationwide initiative to encourage recycling.

One tree was donated for each tonne of aluminium cans and foil returned between July 2003 and June this year. Twenty six tonnes were collected in the town during the period.

Alupro Chief Executive Paul Martin said: "As the trees grow to maturity, they will give a real sense of how energy saved by getting into the habit of recycling builds into real environmental improvement."