TALENTED youngsters have been learning about the importance of recycling in a creative writing project.

St Margaret's Primary School in Prestwich teamed up with Bury-based electrical goods recycling firm REPIC to teach pupils about how re-using old household appliances is good for the environment.

All Year 4 pupils were given a toy of the company's mascot, called R3PIC, and were encouraged to write short stories about where they took him.

Children wrote fascinating tales about how they had taken the mascot trampolining and about how he had helped with their homework.

Visit responsible-recycling.co.uk to read them.

Teachers also gave lessons on how waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) can be recycled.

REPIC's chief executive officer Dr Philip Morton said: "The challenge was a fun way to engage with families in our home town and stress the importance of recycling their used electricals.

"It has been fantastic to have the support of Bury Council throughout the challenge and we've thoroughly enjoyed reading all the children's stories."

The school's headteacher Kath Perry said: "The children have really enjoyed taking R3P1C out and about and writing their adventure blogs.

"They have also been very enthusiastic about learning the importance of recycling used electrical items."

Bury Council's head of waste management Glenn Stuart said: "Electrical goods are one of the fastest growing waste streams so it really is important that from a young age our children learn about recycling WEEE responsibly and that they can share this learning with their families.

"The UK has a target to recycle 65 per cent of WEEE by 2018 so every electrical item, large or small, really does count."

Such items can be recycled at household waste recycling centres across the borough.