CHILDREN from schools across Cumbria have been recognised for their efforts to benefit the environment.

Young people from more than 170 primary school across the county took part in the Recycling Rewards for Schools initiative, which encouraged children to collect pledges to recycle from family, friends and neighbours and has seen more than 42,000 household vow to recycle more of their rubbish.

The children's achievements were honoured at a special event at Rheged which rewarded individual children pupils with prizes and the top three districts were given cash prizes to share among their respective schools.

The scheme was run by Resource Cumbria, the strategic waste partnership between Cumbria County Council and the six district councils.

Cabinet member responsible for recycling Jack Richardson said: "More than 40,000 households made pledges and that means this scheme has really reduced the amount we needlessly throw out which is good for the environment and good for the Cumbrian taxpayer."