PUPILS at a Brighton school have been awarded £5,000 to turn their big green dream into a reality.

Dorothy Stringer School wants to create a renewable phone charging station.

The station will be powered by a large battery pack housed in a cabinet charged by a wind turbine and solar panels.

Alongside this, the school plans to create its own vegetable patch with spare green land behind the new sports pitch.

The funding was awarded by the ScottishPower Green Energy Trust, an independent charity which helps community renewable energy projects get off the ground.

The pupils at Dorothy Stringer competed against schools across the UK to win the prize by sharing their big green dream.

Rob Sandercock, geography and environmental science teacher, said: “We are so chuffed to win £5,000.

“This money will really get the project going.

“Charging our phones with free electricity! What more can we ask for?”

Year 10 student Sonny Da Luz said: “We’re so excited to win this prize.

“I can’t wait until we build our renewable phone charging station.”

Funded entirely by donations from ScottishPower’s Green Energy Fund customers, the Green Energy Trust has awarded more than £1.6 million to 154 projects since it was first established in 2000.

Alison McKean, social and environmental policy manager at ScottishPower and a trustee of the ScottishPower Green Energy Trust, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to help pupils at Dorothy Stringer School make their big green dream become a reality.

“It is truly inspiring to hear pupils engage with the environment and find ways to make their school more environmentally friendly.

“Judges commended Dorothy Stringer pupils for their original and creative entry which will benefit the entire school.

“We can’t wait to see what the pupils achieve with the funding.”