Thousands of pounds has been raised by school children who donated one and a half African elephants worth of old clothes.

School children across Essex collecting gave nine tonnes of old t-shirts, trousers, dresses and other pieces of clothes as part of a competition run by Bag2School and Recycle for Essex.

As well as raising £3,700 in the process, the young recyclers help cut down unnecessary waste.

Every household in Essex throws away the equivalent of 36 woolly jumpers each year.

Councillor Simon Walsh, Essex County Council cabinet member for waste, said: “The schools recycling competition has been a fun new way to encourage pupils and parents to learn about the value of recycling their clothes.

"I would like to congratulate all the schools who took part, for encouraging young people in Essex to become a new generation of recyclers."

To find out more ways to recycle, go to To find out more visit recycleforessex.com