Echo editor Marc Astley, along with Mike Trim, from Exeter City Council and Richard Lawrence, from EDF Energy, popped along to Ladysmith Junior School in Exeter yesterday with a special delivery - 400 green book bags, one for every child.As part of the Echo's award-winning Green Shoppers campaign, which aims to reduce plastic carrier bag use, we asked city primary school pupils to come up with the design for a book bag, a variation on our popular reusable green shopping bags.

We received hundreds of entries, a short list was drawn up, readers voted and the eventual winner was seven-year-old Sadie Horler, from Ladysmith.

Sadie was delighted when she saw her design on the finished book bag and said: "It looks just like I thought it would." Mum Carol said: "We're very proud of her. She spent a lot of time on her design." Mr Astley told the pupils they were leading the way in the country and that using book bags instead of plastic bags would help the environment.

Mr Lawrence, EDF Energy's director of business, performance and quality, in Exeter, said: "My School Bag is another fantastic development in a campaign which EDF Energy is delighted to be involved with.

"Not only did the competition inspire youngsters to think carefully about green issues, the bags themselves act as a daily reminder about the importance of reusing and recycling.

"As well as the bags, we've given every youngster at the school a water-powered calculator, staple-free staplers for every class and a low energy Quick Cup kettle for the staff, further practical reminders about how we must all do more to reduce our impact on the environment."

Mr Trim, the city council's head of cleansing services, said: "Sadie's design is absolutely fantastic and the excellent thing is that all 25 infant and junior schools in Exeter will receive a number of the bags, perhaps to use as prizes. Hopefully we will soon see these bags all over the city."