VOLUNTEERS took time out from work to start work on a school garden greenhouse which will be made out of 2,000 plastic bottles.

A wooden frame has been installed for the greenhouse at Red Hall Primary School, in Darlington, with the remaining work to be carried out next month.

It will be used by youngsters across the school, and members of the after-school gardening club in particular.

On Wednesday (June 18), volunteers from Darlington companies EE and Esh Group visited the school to meet children and unveil the wooden frame.

About 1,000 two-litre plastic bottles have been collected so far, with the same amount still needed.

Esh and EE are both members of Darlington Cares, a scheme set up 18 months ago to encourage workplace volunteering.

Darlington Cares project manager Katie Blundell said: "We are having a full day's volunteering on July 3, to put the greenhouse together.

"We will have a team of volunteers cleaning the plastic bottles, others will be cutting the tops off and a third team will be theading them onto bamboo canes."

Teaching assistant Helen Cole, who runs the gardening club, said: "We have paired up with Darlington Cares, which has taken us under its wing.

"The kids are absolutely thrilled to be getting their own greenhouse."

Donations of plastic bottles are welcome. Call Miss Blundell on 07917-473-992.