SHOPPERS in Worcester found themselves ambushed by mini-eco warriors.

Pupils from St George’s Catholic Primary School recruited allies for a campaign to fight climate change at the Ombersley Road Co-operative food store.

The children, along with duty manager Debbie Cox, dressed in camouflage bandanas, green hoodies and face-paint and spent the afternoon asking customers about their green credentials.

Shoppers were challenged on their recycling habits and energy use for a special report about the town’s commitment to green issues and received advice about simple steps they can take to help the environment.

The pupils have been studying climate change issues at school following the installation of £20,000 solar panels at St George’s last October with money from the Co-op’s £2 million Green Energy for Schools programme.

Since 2007, the Co-op, together with the Government’s low-carbon building programme, has helped more than 180 schools install solar panels, wind turbines, biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps.

St George’s headteacher Michael Painter said: “We have been working on a number of initiatives to reduce the school’s carbon footprint since our Co-op solar panels were installed and the pupils are passionate about environmental issues. This project gave them the chance to carry out some interesting and original research and share their knowledge and enthusiasm with the wider community.”