Meanwhile, the Forestry Commission has teamed up with the 'News of the World' to encourage schools to get youngsters involved in planting a million trees. Some 30,000 primary and secondary schools are to be given a packet of native tree seeds for cultivating and planting out.

Schools will receive their packs during April, when the 'News of the World' will establish a stand-alone website to support the campaign and report on progress.

See www.forestry.gov.uk/news1/9E8DE63CB8C4E293802575660049F1E4.