SCHOOL children from Eastbourne launched boats made from plastic bottles before recycling their vessels as part of a record breaking attempt.

A total of 52 pupils from Langney Primary School and Gildredge House teamed up with staff from outdoor activity centre Buzz Active to take part in the Plastic Bottle Boat Challenge in a bid to show the importance of reusing and recycling plastics.

After learning about the issue of plastic pollution in the oceans, the environment and recycling, they joined 6,000 children around the world, simultaneously launching a flotilla of plastic boats in what is hoped to be a new Guinness World Record.

Having built their vessels using recycled plastic bottles they had collected from their school, pupils headed to Princess Park Lake on Wednesday, June 27 for a 2pm launch.

Richard Wilson, centre manager at Buzz Active, said: “It was an amazing event and wonderful sight to see 52 recycled boats taking to the water. Full credit to those who took part, as every boat managed to stay afloat.

“As well as being great fun, the event highlighted the devastating impact plastic waste is having on oceans and the environment and the importance of reusing and recycling plastic.”

Following the world record attempt, the plastic bottle boats were retrieved from the lake and recycled.

Those who took part now face an anxious wait to find out whether their efforts have earned them a place in record books.