Eager energy savers from a dozen Norfolk secondary schools came together yesterday for an energy fair at Norwich's John Innes Centre.

Year 8 pupils proudly showed off achievements in reducing their school's energy consumption, as part of schemes run by the National Trust and Norfolk County Council.

The Energy Busters and E-Futures schemes saw pupils not only save their school money but reduce the carbon footprint of Norfolk by 15pc.

At Hethersett High School, the youngsters made the school a 46pc saving on a weeks electricity.

Small groups of ambassadors from each school gave presentations on their methods and results, and were presented with rewards by county councillor Philip Hardy.

Mr Hardy said: 'This is about creating jobs and protecting Norfolk from climate change simultaneously.

'The green economy is expanding in Norfolk, there are going to be so many opportunities for the young.

'The skill sets that these young people have picked up during this will stand them in really good stead to take up these jobs in East Anglia.'

The pupils shared ideas, heard talks on jobs in the green industries and took part in a number of activities.

Wymondham College pupil Philippa Condliffe, 13, was of the group that ran an in-school campaign to 'turn the teachers', giving teachers red cards if they used too much energy.

Miss Condliffe said: 'I thought that by doing this I would gain skills that I could use in later life, and saving energy is important for the future.

'I found it interesting comparing what other schools had done.'

Miss Philipp's geography teacher Victoria Dinwoody said: 'It is a good experience for them, they have found today inspiring as well and learnt a lot of practical skills and an appreciation of climate change they can pass onto their children.'

A number of primary and junior schools also took part in the scheme, run by the National Trust and funded by Norfolk County Council, as carbon footprint reduction is increasingly seen as key to county's future.

Energy Fair co-ordinator Emily Chittenden of the National Trust said: 'Schools have said they would like to get together more often, to share ideas. These two days have been about celebrating the successes of the project and those schools.'