Schoolchildren had green-fingered fun as they planted fruit trees in Witham.

Pupils in the gardening club at Templars Primary and Nursery school, in Cressing Road, joined staff, volunteers from Witham Tree Group and members of Braintree Council’s landscapes team to plant the trees in the school grounds.

The trees are all Heritage Essex varieties and include Braintree Seedling and Maldon Wonder.

Councillor Wendy Schmitt, cabinet member for place at Braintree Council, said: "Over the past few weeks and months we have been working with various groups and organisations to plant trees.

“I am always delighted to visit local schools, as this is really an excellent opportunity for young children to not only get involved, but also learn more about their wider environment and find out more about the work that volunteer group like the Witham Tree Group do to improve the green landscape.”