PLASTIC bags have been given the boot at St Michael's First School in Minehead after youngsters came up with their own eco alternative. The school has designed a bag using Fair Trade cotton as part of its ongoing drive in the Eco Schools Challenge - an initiative in which it has already been awarded bronze status. The new bags feature the school badge on one side and a winning logo designed by nine-year-old Amie Bowditch. All pupils in class four were given the chance to come up with a design and Amie's depiction of a world in the shape of a face, coupled with the slogan, 'hot bag, cool world' impressed governors who took on the role of judges. Class four teacher Jane Wheeler said the children had created some excellent and interesting designs: "We had about seven or eight which got through to the final stage of judging. "The idea of designing these bags was to raise awareness about not using plastic ones." The school is well on the way to proving its green credentials and recently held a 'walk to school' day. It also composts all its fruit waste, has a school garden and a wildlife-rich pond and is planning to install solar panels. l Winning logo designer Amie Bowditch is pictured with the new eco-bags. Photo: Steve Guscott
