COUNCIL tree surgeon Mark Roberts knows just how to help make leaves a little bit greener.

He came out tops when 135 eco trailblazers from St Helens Council cut their carbon emissions by learning how to drive in an environmentally friendly way.

The 135 drivers, who use vehicles as part of their jobs, went on an ‘ecodriving’ course funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and delivered by the Energy Saving Trust and Drivesense.

Over the two-month course they managed to cut their fuel bills by 14 per cent saving a combined total of £25,000 and 45,129kg of carbon dioxide. Over a year that equates to savings of £225 per person.

Mark led the way with an average fuel consumption of 61mpg and was rewarded with shopping vouchers by the council’s Chief Environmental Health Officer, Anthony Smith. For tips on how to cut your vehicle’s fuel consumption see www.sthelens.gov.uk/ecodriving