ENVIRONMENTALLY-friendly pupils have helped a Basildon school become the first in the country to win a new eco award.

Laindon Park Primary School and Nursery, in Church Hill, is the very first winner of the Planet Mark 5-year Achiever Award.

The prize is given out to acknowledge a school’s commitment to measuring and reducing its carbon footprint each year for five years.

Laindon Park Primary School and Nursery has been running lessons and holding assemblies on the importance of looking after the planet.

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Pupils have been planting flowers and trees to improve the environment, as well as litter-picking as part of an after-school club.

The youngsters have also been walking to school at least once a week as part of a ‘WOW’ scheme, which aims to reduce the number of vehicle journeys near the school.

A school spokesman said: “We’re thrilled to have received this award as recognition for the hard work all members of our Laindon Park Primary family have put in over the years.

“We see it as our duty to care for this planet and we’re committed to do more so that, when these children are adults, they will see the difference in the world around them.

“Thank you also to everyone and Planet Mark, you’re doing such amazing, vital work and we only hope that our involvement encourages others to do the same.”

Planet Mark, which is behind the award scheme, is an organisation which works with community groups and schools to improve the planet.

DP world has also been part of the scheme to help lower Laindon Park’s carbon footprint.

Since the scheme launched five years ago, the school has seen its carbon output reduced by around a quarter.

Planet Mark spokesman Lilly Miller said: “It’s incredibly inspiring to see large organisations such as DP World supporting schools across the country to embed sustainability through our development certification.

“This is especially true when I look at Laindon Park Primary, who have not only been the first school to achieve five years of Planet Mark certification but have managed to reduce their emissions significantly.”