CHRISTMAS this year will be far from rubbish for year two pupils at Robert Le Kyng Primary School.

After a day spent learning about recycling at the Brunel Centre, pupils at the town centre school have spent the last few weeks putting the finishing touches to Christmas presents and decorations made from old shoeboxes and school uniforms.

And at a school assembly yesterday Swindon mayor Councillor Eric Shaw handed out prizes for the best litter creations.

Six-year-old Nadia Szymanska claimed first prize with a beautiful Christmas wreath creating using scraps of old school uniform.

The colourful wreath impressed Coun Shaw.

“The way it was easy to hang on the tree and stood out even without lights on,” the councillor said. “For a little six year old, I thought that was extremely clever.”

Second and third prizes were awarded to Leo Cook and Sulek Kurmathas for a glass candle holder and model Tudor house.

Each prize-winner received a book token donated by Waterstone’s.

The prize-giving followed a day out at the Brunel Centre last month, where deputy centre manager Jane Stewart invited a class of 30 pupils to find out how the shopping centre manages its own recycling.

Karen Barnard, who has taught at Robert Le Kyng Primary School for three years, said: “Jane taught the children about the three Rs – reduce, reuse, recycle.”

“They went on a trip up to the roof of the Brunel Centre, where all their recycling and rubbish happens. They were absolutely fascinated.”

After a healthy snack of fruit and water at McDonald’s restaurant, the pupils picked up litter on the way back to school.

Teacher Karen added: “The children couldn’t believe the amount of litter on the path.”

Back at school though they found a creative use for household rubbish.

“They’ve made Christmas presents out of objects that would normally be thrown away,” said Karen.

Among the presents that parents will unwrap under the tree are candle holders made out of glass jars and Christmas wreaths sewn out of old school uniforms.

A village of historic houses – made out of shoeboxes – will be burned today as part of a class project on the Great Fire of London.

Coun Shaw was struck by the children’s passion for reducing litter.

“They saw just how much can actually be recycled and what can be done with what has been recycled,” he said.

“And being six-year-olds they will then tell their parents and bigger brothers and sisters.”

Jane Stewart, deputy centre manager at the Brunel Centre, said: “This has been a great project. I’m really impressed with the creativity the children have shown, it’s clearly sparked their imagination.”

“We know that projects such as this really do help to enrich learning for the students.”