SCHOOLCHILDREN at a Horwich primary school went green for the day to highlight how they can help the planet.

All the school years at St Mary’s RC Primary School in Victoria Road marked the centre’s 11th annual Green Day with a range of special events and speakers.

Instead of driving to classes, children joined the ‘walking bus’ in the morning dressed in green, and welcomed representatives from the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to work in the school’s garden.

Year six children explored Rivington and year four pupils visited the Raikes Lane Recycling Centre, while years five, one and foundation enjoyed their lessons outdoors to learn about natural art and woodland.

Parents and children were also asked to donate unwanted clothes, soft toys or curtains to be recycled and raise money for plants by the school entrance, while any unwanted shoes were collected and sent off to Africa, via Clarks shoe shop.

Deputy head teacher Anne-Marie Davies said the Green Day was the culmination of a year’s work, and was part of the school’s objective to prepare the children to become ‘global citizens’.

She said: “Being an eco-school is what we’re about and part of our ethos.”