BARROW schoolchildren have heard about ways to reduce their parents' carbon footprint.

Alison Coward, an environmental health officer at Barrow council, spoke to pupils at St Pius' X School about 'idling' - running a vehicle's engine when it is not in motion - and the damaging environmental impacts it has, releasing greenhouse gases as well as emitting noxious fumes.

The practice has long been criticised by environmentalists.

Barrow council was one of the 270 local authorities across England that declared a climate emergency.

Mother Rachel Moyse said after the talk: 'My son Jacob showed me it when we left school, and asked about us all walking to school sometimes and not using the car."