STUDENTS have been warned not to dump face masks around their school grounds - and save vital funds as well as the environment.

Pupils at a number of borough high schools have resumed wearing face coverings after a spike in the number of Covid cases in Bolton.

But teachers at Westhoughton High have become concerned about the volume of masks which are being left on school property.

In a statement on Twitter, a school official said: "Can we ask that students bring a mask with them each day and/or value the masks that are given out in school.

"We have been providing masks in school to students who do not have one with them and this is proving to be a drain on school resources.

"A high number of the masks given out have ended up discarded around the school site, which is not ideal both financially and environmentally."

Bolton School was among the first to re-introduce masks - and adopt virtual assemblies - after the rise on coronavirus cases. A similar policy has been enforced in neighbouring Bury and other Greater Manchester boroughs, as vaccinations are rolled out to younger people.