SCHOOLCHILDREN and teachers have welcomed Percy Penguin, the talking waste bin, to their Essex primary school.Yesterday, Michael Gage, Braintree District Council's cabinet member for the environment, visited Colne Engaine Primary School to see the first talking waste bin to be used in the district.

SCHOOLCHILDREN and teachers have welcomed Percy Penguin, the talking waste bin, to their Essex primary school.

Yesterday, Michael Gage, Braintree District Council's cabinet member for the environment, visited Colne Engaine Primary School to see the first talking waste bin to be used in the district.

The penguin has five novelty messages, triggered by putting litter in his mouth, such as “Thank you for feeding me” and “Yum, yum”. During term time, the school caretaker will place Percy outside the school gate each day or where the school feels he would be most useful.

Mr Gage said: “The school and the parish council are keen to work with us to help teach the youngsters to dispose of their litter in a responsible way. Always putting your rubbish in a bin is a good habit to get into and the younger we learn good habits the better - feeding Percy is a fun way to do it.”