Schoolchildren learning about recycling visited a landfill site to see what happens to the waste they throw away.

The children, from Hagbourne School, near Didcot, joined site staff and the Wild Waste Show bus for a tour of the Ardley Fields landfill site, near Bicester.

They were able to watch how waste materials are sorted ready for recycling.

Site staff were celebrating their own recycling achievements after figures showed recycling rates had increased by more than 30 per cent between April to October.

The day also coincided with the launch of phase two of the Wild Waste Show, which aims to provide more support to schools taking an active part in recycling.

About 12,000 children in Oxfordshire have been involved in the project, which is funded through the landfill tax credits scheme and Trust for Oxfordshire's Environment by Viridor Waste Management, which runs the Ardley site, and Oxfordshire County Council.

Clare Tomlinson, of the Wild Waste Show, said the show taught children what happens to rubbish.

She said: "Being here at Ardley highlights the problems with rubbish, but also some good work that is being done to recycle people's waste."

Catherine Fulljames, a Bicester county councillor, said: "Ardley has really improved its recycling rate, which is all credit to local residents who have responded well."

Anne Purse, executive member for strategic planning and waste management, commended the show.

She said: "It is great to see the bus and the children at the site so they get a real idea of what happens if they put their rubbish in the bin."