SCHOOLCHILDREN, residents and councillors have united to get behind Billericay’s trailblazing green campaign.

The quest to crack down on the town’s above-average carbon emissions, was celebrated at the Emmanuel Church, with a special green day.

Earlier this year the town council launched its campaign – the first in Essex – to reduce Billericay’s carbon dioxide emissions, which are 25 per cent above the national average.

Celebratory events included a series of presentations given by the Energy Savings Trust and wildlife experts about the need to save resources and clean up the environment.

Youngsters from Sunnymede Primary School sang a song about being green for the event. There was also fancy dress contest, with costumes made out of waste materials.

David Knight, who spearheaded the campaign for the town council, said: “We wanted to get this serious message across to people, but in a fun way. The fancy dress competition was brilliant.

“We had costumes including a ‘Lego brick’ made of egg cartons, and a dress made of old newspapers.”

The next step in the campaign will be the sending out of “commitment cards” to every house in Billericay through the Town Crier newsletter.