DERI View Primary School pupils are proud winners of

the coveted £500 reward for best School's

Environmental Project in the community council area.

The competition judges voted the local children

clear winners of the fund, which will be spent on

development of the school grounds.

"The children really impressed us with their very

high awareness of environmental issues," said Barbara

Symons, Chairman of Llantilio Pertholey Community

Council's Environmental Committee.

"We have been delighted to offer our

encouragement and support," she added.

Runner up prizes of £250 were granted to

Llantilio Pertholey CV Primary and Ysgol Gymraeg who

also greatly impressed the judges with their

"commitment to a more eco friendly attitude."

As well as the community council providing its

own contribution to the £1,000 prize money,

councillor David Spencer thanked local businessmen

Anthony A Davies and Alun Griffiths for their financial

sponsorship as well as the "in kind" support from the

local branch of Waitrose and The Serious Food

Company, based in Llantrissant.

Appreciation also went towards the judges'

panel, which included former head teacher Hen

Hewitt, Dawn Davis of firm Anthony A Davis and

Colette Mooney of Monmouthshire County Council,

with councillor Spencer later adding, "We are

enormously grateful for their dedication and

enthusiasm."

The council describes the initiative of a greener

Monmouthshire as an "on-going objective" and says

they will pursue their commitment with a range of

further environmental projects.