Penketh schoolchildren are celebrating after receiving a funding boost thanks to a metal recycling scheme in the town centre.

Metal recycling company EMR, which is based in Westbrook, installed metal collection bins at Golden Square Shopping Centre for people to drop off common waste metal items such as copper piping, pots and pans as well as cans, radiators and garden tools.

The donated metals were regularly weighed and the total value of the metal collected amounted to £800.

This was match funded by EMR and Golden Square Shopping Centre meaning Penketh Primary School received £2,400.

Headteacher Rebecca Kayll said: “Penketh Primary pupils would like to say a huge thank you to EMR and Golden Square Shopping Centre for their extremely generous donation to the school.

“The eco team and all the pupils across the school have enjoyed learning about metal recycling with the Recyclabots and changing the way we use, reuse and recycle.

“It has raised an awareness that will carry on long after the initial project finishes.”

She added: “The donation is invaluable to our school in these current times.

“The eco team and our school council will decide how the money will be spent to improve our eco credentials, with one pupil stating an aim to make the school carbon neutral.

“Like every school, most of our fundraising opportunities have been cancelled this year due to Covid-19, so this truly exciting for all the pupils at Penketh Primary.”

Every Warrington school that registered as part of the initiative have been offered the resources to deliver EMR’s educational programme, Recyclabots, which is a key stage two programme teaching children about metals and the importance of recycling.

Ian Sheppard, managing director at EMR said: “EMR has a heritage which is strongly rooted in the north west of England and as a local employer, we care about supporting local communities.

 “Through this initiative, we have been able to educate young people and the community about the importance of recycling unwanted metal waste.

“I am delighted that we have also been able to support the educational needs of local young people, something we are extremely passionate about here at EMR.”