PUPILS have dug deep to help improve their local environment.

Year six pupils Alex Kaisley, Jack Matthewman, Aimee Farndale and Siobhan Hollis-Miles, from the Applegarth School, Northallerton, and their headteacher, Al Procter, took part in a day of tree planting in the grounds of the Beechwood nursing home.

The group was invited to take part in the planting by the Reverend John Parker, of the town's United Reformed Church.

It is the first stage in a scheme by the church to make Northallerton a greener place, partly-funded by Hambleton District Council.

Members are involved in recycling, caring for wildlife and cultivating environmentally friendly areas. The scheme also aims to bring together young and old sections of the community.

Its next major project is to plant 200 trees around the grounds of Northallerton Town Football Club. The church will again be helped by youngsters, this time by members of the Northallerton Air Training Corps where Mr Parker is the chaplain