EAST Lancashire students have gained worldwide recognition for creating the country’s first ever carbon neutral classroom.

Students at Accrington Academy were invited to an international architecture conference in America with some of the world’s leading and innovative designers to pitch their idea for classrooms of the future.

Students at the Queen’s Road West school set up their own company Roots to produce the carbon neutral, eco friendly and fully sustainable classroom.

The £350,000 classroom incorporates a wind turbine and photovoltaic cells for electricity, solar panels for hot water, a rainwater harvesting system for minimal water waste and a pond to attract wildlife, which can be observed in a ‘hide’.

It also has reclaimed timber beams and locally sourced chipboard flooring, walls insulated with straw bales and a grass roof.

Building on the classroom is due to begin shortly.

Callum Slinger, 15, Aimee French, Madison Holt and Daniel Rollings, all 13, from Roots were invited to San Jose, California, to present their vision in front of 600 leading architects at the Council of Educational Facility Planners International meeting.

They received a standing ovation from delegates at the conference and organisers were so impressed that they presented the students with a special recognition award for outstanding achievement.

Aimee said: “I am very pleased by the result we got and the reactions people have had so far. I hope we can continue to win awards and inspire more people to go green.”

Alison Watson from Class of Your Own, Clitheroe, which helped the students establish Roots, said: “The building is a great example of what can be achieved if the construction industry engages and listens to young people.

“What students at Accrington Academy have achieved should be an example to schools and academies across the country.

“Seeing what these students can do makes you think. We should be involving children more in community projects.”