DECORATED paper bags designed by schoolchildren are being used by a business in the Covered Market.

A jewellery and bag stall called Nothing, based in Oxford’s historic indoor market, ordered 300 of the paper bags created by pupils at East Oxford Primary School.

Children in Year 3 and 4 have been promoting the use of paper bags, as a more environmentally-friendly alternative to plastic bags.

They approached local businesses to ask if any would like to use their bespoke designs in their shops, and received an order to design 300 bags for Nothing, having impressed the shop’s owner with a successful pitch.

Pupils worked hard to create a Christmas-themed design, and set up their own production line.

The limited-edition bags feature a snowman design, created by Emilia Livingstone-Campbell in Year 4, and were handed over by pupils on Friday.

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Artwork from the school's pupils will also be featuring on bags for Aleppo’s Falafel on Cowley Road, and Antiques on High in the city centre.

Their business pitches were part of an enterprise project looking at the environment.

Children from Year 3 and 4 have been learning about the damage plastic does in the oceans, and the benefits of paper bags rather than plastic ones.

Year 4 will also be visiting Sky Studios in Brentford this week, to film a news item about plastics in the oceans.

This was the latest artwork that East Oxford pupils have seen go public.

In October they designed the artwork for the St Frideswide Civic Service, at Christ Church Cathedral, at the request of the Lord Mayor of Oxford.

Some Key Stage 2 pupils also illustrated art inspired by different cultures, which has been installed on boards outside the Jesus College redevelopment in Cornmarket Street.

Children worked with teachers to create pictures, featuring characters from their favourite stories in their native languages, to brighten up the college's Northgate House building site.