It's not just politicians such as Malcolm Wicks and David Cameron who are extolling the virtues of wind turbines.

Children at 8,000 schools across the country are also getting switched on to green energy - thanks to a new educational tool that brings renewable power into the classroom.

The renewable energy education kits, which demonstrate how green energy works, have taken off after they were first developed two years ago by energy education charity, the National Energy Foundation.

Schools can choose between a wind turbine kit, a solar water heater kit and a solar photovoltaic kit which produces green electricity.

The latest school to benefit is Hotham Primary School in Putney, which was given a kit after winning the Green School category at the Green Guardian Awards on November 17.

Maggie Gunning, the school's eco co-ordinator, said: "It was a brilliant prize. It's a perfect way to help us appreciate alternative energy solutions and their prospects for the future."