GREEN-fingered youngsters have been named runners-up in a national environmental contest.

Youngsters from St Leonard’s RC School, in Durham City, were national finalists in npower’s Climate Cops SOS competition, which encouraged young people to devise eco-friendly schemes.

They introduced 20 hand sanitisers around their school to save 60,000 litres of water a year under the banner: Every Drop Counts.

TV presenter Ben Fogle, a contest judge, said: "St Leonard’s RC School students have proved that small actions can make a big difference.

"The innovation and creativity shown in the projects the children have designed and implemented is inspiring and they have demonstrated the power their generation can have to make change happen."

Clare McDougall, head of npower Climate Cops, said: "We love the idea of Every Drop Counts."

The final, featuring ten schools, was held at Birmingham Think Tank Science Museum on Wednesday, May 4.

The winners were Dinas Bran, of Llagollen, North-East Wales.

The St Leonard’s students each won £150 in bike equipment vouchers, along with an energy saving consultation for the school.