THE future is not just bright for a town school - it's green.

Environmentally friendly pupils at Meadows First School, in Stourbridge Road - encouraged by their teacher Sara Date - have secured their first coveted Eco-Schools green flag.

To celebrate the achievement Bromsgrove MP Julie Kirkbride went to the school. The green flag was raised to the top of the school's newly-erected flag pole in a celebration overseen by governors and visitors.

Eco-Schools asked children to set up a committee which represented all members of their school. This group looked at problems such as how to save water and encouraging pupils to lead healthy lives. Pupils were then asked to create an action plan to address these problems.

Headteacher Pam Townsend said: "Being awarded a green flag is something that the whole school and its surrounding community can be proud of.

"The pupils take a sense of responsibility and pride in improving their local environment. It has been a fantastic initiative for all those involved, especially Mrs Date and her eco-committee, however it is by no means over.

"The greater challenge is to maintain what we have achieved so far and look to ways of improving them even further."

Mrs Date and the children of the eco-committee have not only improved the school environment, but found a number of advantages of being green. In reducing the school's water consumption Meadows' water bills have dramatically reduced and helped it receive a Be Smart award from Severn Trent