GREEN-friendly school children in Appleton are celebrating after winning a 'Gold Oak' award in a recycling competition.

Youngsters at St Monica's Catholic Primary School scooped the £300 top prize in Warrington's Yellow Woods Challenge.

The children collected 906 old Yellow Pages directories for recycling in the environmentally friendly competition for schools, run by Yellow Pages, the borough council and Woodland Trust.

In addition to their cash prize, youngsters were awarded the 'Gold Oak' title and were given a pack of sapling trees to

plant at school.

St Andrew's CE Primary

school came second and received £200 and a 'Silver Birch' certificate with £100 and the bronze beech going to Green Lane Community Special School.

Clr Brian Axcell, Warrington Borough Council's executive board member, said: "Fifty three schools took part and collected a total of 9,888 old Yellow Pages directories so everyone should feel very proud of this."

For every pound awarded to schools, Yellow Pages gives a pound to the Woodland Trust's 'Tree For All' campaign, which aims to plant a tree for every child in the UK.