PUPILS at an ecologically-friendly school helped launch a conservation group's pledge to protect wildlife in East Lancashire.

Keith Hall, chairman of River Enhancement East Lancashire (REEL) signed the biodiversity declaration at St. Mary's Primary School, Mayfield Avenue, Oswaldtwistle.

The declaration argues that Lancashire contains some of the country's best wildlife habitats which are under threat, and calls on businesses, farmers and government to reverse the decline.

St. Mary's School already does regular pond dipping to see what lives in the water, and carried out a clean-up to celebrate the declaration.

REEL project co-ordinator Pamela Hill said: "Biodiversity is about the variety of living things and the variety of wildlife in our local streams, rivers and canals as an indicator of their health. The greater biodiversity, the less polluted they are likely to be."