SCHOOLCHILDREN were given a lesson in caring for their future yesterday when recycling experts joined their teaching team for the morning.

Pupils from Middlestone Moor Primary were visited by Ruth Clayton, from environmental project Wastewise, and supporters of the Butterwick Hospice at Bishop Auckland, which raises valuable funds with a range of collection schemes.

Spike the Hedgehog, the mascot for Butterwick Hospice Care, joined the Bishop Auckland centre's new fundraiser Sylvia Stoneham and recycling organiser Bernard Harrison.

Collecting paper, card, Yellow Pages, aluminium cans, toner cartridges and mobile phones earns the hospice £10,000 a year.

The project is a past winner of The Northern Echo's environmental competition, Making a Difference.

Mr Harrison said: "The children know a lot about recycling and understand how important it is."