YOUNGSTERS in Weaverham are helping to bring warmth to those most in need this winter.

Pupils at Weaverham Primary Academy will be turning their discarded crisp packets into life-saving blankets for homeless people and those living in war-torn Ukraine.  

The whole school will be filling 'Coral the clownfish' - designed and made by artist at the British Ironwork Centre, the UK’s biggest sculpture park devoted to metalwork- with their used crisp packets.

They’re also asking the local community to save their packets and bring them into school to ‘feed’ Coral, which could help them reach their minimum target of 1,000.  

Northwich Guardian: Kids are asking for help to fill Coral with at least 1,000 packetsKids are asking for help to fill Coral with at least 1,000 packets (Image: North West Academies Trust)

Crisp packets have a reflective quality which is ideal for retaining heat, but are otherwise difficult to recycle due to their metallic lining.

Teaching Assistant, Christina Millachip, organised the project with the help of children in the School Council.  

She said: “The School Council is very passionate about this project.

"They have led an assembly, made fliers to send home and created posters.

"They can't wait to see the clown clownfish full and the contents turned into recycled blankets which will keep homeless people warm.” 

Crisp packets are made from a metallised plastic film which helps keep crisps fresh but can only be recycled by specialised companies. That means most get sent to landfill.

The UK alone discards around 16 million packets of crisps every day, and some dating as far back as the 1960s still wash up on our shores. 

Weaverham Primary head teacher,  Jo Price, said: “This is a fantastic project which has really got the children thinking about looking after the environment and helping others."

“We’re so pleased to be able to borrow Coral.

“When she’s full we send her back to British Ironworks and they will send the empty crisp packets to a special company who clean them and turn them into blankets. 

“We need to collect a minimum of 1,000 empty crisp packets but we think as a school we can beat this - especially with children, staff, and local community bringing them in from home.”