The year 9 pupils carried out an experiment to investigate the effects of 'bio-remediation' on soil that had been contaminated with engine oil.

"When the Heartsease pupils visited the industrial site last month they saw the impact of industrial activity on the environment, today they've had the chance to see the less visible impact, in this case contamination left in the soil. They have also been examining the possibilities of using bio-remediation, a kind of composting technique, for cleaning polluted soils," said Dr Brian Reid of UEA's School of Environmental Sciences.

In the laboratory, the pupils tested the soil samples for evidence of a reduction in the levels of pollutants present.

The industrial site and laboratory visits were part of the Schools-Business Environmental Network initiative, which is run by the Jackson Environment Institute, (JEI), www.jei.uea.ac.uk, and supported by the East Anglia Business Environment Club (EABEC), both of which are based in UEA's School of Environmental Sciences.

"The Network develops partnerships between schools, the business community and the university and challenges school children to find solutions to a range of environmental issues facing businesses today, such as how to reduce waste," said Susan Crothers, Activity Co-ordinator for the Jackson Environment Institute.

The Schools-Business Environmental Network was launched in March by Norwich South MP, Charles Clarke and involves three other schools in the Norwich area: Earlham High, Fireside Middle and Thorpe Hamlet Middle Schools.

Local waste management company, Norfolk Environmental Waste Services (NEWS) is providing funding for the project, through the landfill tax credit scheme and the Environmental Projects Agency.