SCHOOL children have got into gear and created a new bike shelter from recycled materials.

Pupils at Amotherby Primary School completed the “scrapheap challenge”, which involved blacksmithing recycled materials such as old chairs, netball posts and other items scavenged from around the school.

Sue Knowles, head teacher, said: “This project has been really exciting for the children to work on. They’ve had hands-on experience at blacksmithing and learning about the value of recycling.

“As a result we have a bespoke bike shelter constructed from old school chairs and redundant bits of metal.

“The bike shelter will be used in our school community for a very long time, including a cycling scheme for the children to learn about safety.

“I would like to thank Piers and Steve for giving their time to this project and teaching traditional skills alongside important environmental issues.”

The school teamed up with Environmental Smart and sister company Environmental Art, to educate the children about climate change, traditional design and forging old metals into new products.

Steve Mason, from Environmental Smart, said: “I love this design, the shelter looks like a tree, has a fossil dinosaur rib cage to park the bikes in and even a real living roof.

“The school kids now have a real tangible memory of their work and I hope we have inspired the next generation.”

Piers Edsall of Environmental Art, added: “It is great to have created something the kids can be really proud of.

“The children were thoroughly engaged with the whole project from initial ideas, through design and especially working the hot metal.

“Hopefully we will have inspired some of them to consider traditional skills and sustainability in the future.”