A COUNCIL has placed a bulk order for winter bird-feeding kits, designed and manufactured by a group of enterprising youngsters.

The young people from Park View Community School in Chester-le-Street created the kits through the school's Young Enterprise Company, No Limits.

Chester-le-Street District Council was so impressed with the product, that it ordered kits to distribute free to residents and schools, on a first-come, first-served basis. The kit consists of a bird feeder, two bags of bird feed and information leaflets on wildlife and birds.

The council's environmental strategy co-ordinator, Mike Keenlyside, said they had 20 kits to be given away.

He said: "The bird-feeding kits are a great contribution to the good work which is going on in the district to support wildlife. We have worked with the young entrepreneurs previously on hedge planting projects and found the gang hard-working, and keen to learn and contribute to the local economy."

Mr Keenlyside said they were running other environmental projects in the district and were trying to turn small open spaces and patches of land in the district into wildlife-friendly areas.

For a bird feeding kit, or to get involved in environmental projects, call Mr Keenlyside on 0191-371 1040.