GREEN-THINKING youngsters were celebrating yesterday after winning an environmental award and £100 for their school.

A group of nine-year-old pupils from Queen Mary's School, at Topcliffe, near Thirsk, produced displays about their visit to the Teesmouth Field Centre, at British Energy's Hartlepool Power Station, earlier this year.

They looked into the area's industrial history and explored plant and animal habitats, as part of their geography studies.

And they were amazed when their work was named as the winner in the over-sevens category of an art competition organised by British Energy.

Teacher Val Jessop said: "It was a wonderful day - the children really enjoyed themselves and learnt a great deal.

"I decided to send some of their work to the centre and was amazed when I received a phone call asking if we would like to enter it into a competition. We then learned that we had won one of the categories, which was marvellous."

British Energy spokesman, Craig Taylor, said: "The artistic ability demonstrated by the children was fantastic. They have all put in a lot of effort and their creativity really makes them worthy winners.