Clevedon Community School is the first to sign up to a recycling programme that will benefit the Great Western Air Ambulance.

Fundraisers who want to support the Sky's The Limit appeal to help raise £1.3 million to keep the helicopter flying are being encouraged to install bins for old clothes, shoes and mobile phones to benefit the charity and the environment.

Clevedon Community School has got on board and the different house groups are being encouraged to compete against each other to see who can bring in the most recycling.

The Evening Post is encouraging more schools across Bristol to get involved and request bins from European Textile Recycling.

Great Western Air Ambulance (GWAA) flies specialist paramedics and emergency doctors directly to seriously-ill patients.

But it relies on donations to provide its life-saving service because the only funding it receives is for paramedic wages and medication.

The helicopter flies five days a week with a car operating when it is not available, but is hoping that with enough funding there will always be air ambulance cover in the former Avon area and beyond seven days a week.

GWAA's dedicated charity has been working with another organisation, Melvyn's Trust, which collects good quality clothing, bric-a-brac, ink cartridges and computers and exports them to developing countries, with profits then being donated to the cause.

Schools can also opt for some of the money raised by the recycling to be paid into their own charity fund.

Teacher and house championship co-ordinator, Bridget Coulter, said the school was encouraging healthy competition between the four different houses, and that in participating in the recycling scheme for GWAA they were also doing their bit for the community and the environment.

She said: "We encourage the children to help the community and do a lot for charity.

"The school is keen on recycling and making the kids aware of the environment, so they can do this while also helping the air ambulance.

"You never know when you might need it and I think the fact that they rely on donations makes it more important that we get behind it."

Chief executive of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity, Paul Weir, said: "We are delighted Clevedon Community School is the first in the area to respond to the Evening Post appeal and would like to thank them for their support.

"We would like to encourage as many schools as possible to consider this project as it will help the environment, help people in developing countries where we send the recycled clothing to and of course it will help to keep the GWAA flying in our area.

"Their support means that they are Recycling for Life."

To follow Clevedon School and get more information on the scheme contact 0854 900 5055 or visit www.european-recycling.com.