CREATIVE youngsters are encouraging people to ‘Use your brain, take the train’ in a prize-winning advert.

Pupils in P6F at Dunbar Primary School created a 50-second advert for Network Rail’s COP26 Schools competition and were named one of two winners.

The global conference in Glasgow took place last month and youngsters from primary and secondary schools across the country were challenged to come up with a poster or advert that encouraged people to take the train.

A judging panel made up of Ellen Burnett, from Lasswade High School; David Paterson, of Edinburgh College; Suzie McCheyne, TOCSA Solutions; Emma Dunne, senior asset engineer track; and John Wilson, community liaison executive with ScotRail, selected five finalists.

Glen Cunningham, class teacher at the school, was pleased to say that the advert caught the eye of judges and it was full steam ahead to a public vote, with the county school being selected as a winner.

The advert features a number of pupils from the class and asks a series of questions: “Fed up of the commute? Can’t find a parking space? Worried about the environment?

“The solution is closer than you think.

“Help get the planet back on track. Use your brain, take the train!”

The advert is partly filmed in Dunbar and features still images from Edinburgh city centre, as well as iconic sights and “feats of engineering” such as the Forth Bridge, and further afield.

The youngsters conclude: “All this is possible with 80 per cent less emissions than a car.

“Get on track today for a greener tomorrow #Useyourbraintakethetrain”

Mr Cunningham said: “Following this, myself and two pupils were invited to Edinburgh Waverley Station to see our advert being played on the screens and receive our certificate from Network Rail.

“Our advert was played in every station across Scotland during COP26 and the pupils won £2,500 for the school to spend on technology.

“The pupils really enjoyed rising to the challenge of making a real-life advert.

“It is great to link work done in the classroom to current events and the world of work.

“As a school, we are delighted to have won and we couldn’t be more proud of the achievements of our young people.”

To view the advert, and the efforts of other finalists, go to scotlandsrailway.com/cop26