schoolchildren had a lesson in modern science by att-ending the opening of a "green electricity" generating facility.

Youngsters from Pinder School, in Scarborough, were given a tour of the site at the Seamer Carr landfill before it was officially commissioned by the resort's council leader, Eileen Bosomworth.

The site is owned and operated by Yorwaste, the company responsible for managing the majority of North Yorkshire's domestic waste.

Seamer Carr is making use of the waste that cannot be reused or recycled by producing electricity from the methane released by decaying waste and distributing it to homes.

The new generator will produce 1.3 megawatts of electricity, enough to meet the needs of 2,000 local households.

Every megawatt of electricity produced by this method replaces the need for power produced by non-renewable fossil fuels, such as coal or oil.

In turn, that helps the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reducing the reliance on burning fossil fuels, which release sulphur into the atmosphere.

Yorwaste's managing director Steve Grieve said: "We are working closely with Scarborough Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council to increase the amount of waste recycled, to avoid it being landfilled.

"We are pleased that the children are visiting because it is important that young people understand the ongoing production of renewable energy is one way of helping to prevent the depletion of the earth's natural resources."

The youngsters were given information leaflets, quiz forms, pencils and rulers.