SCHOOLS across Pembrokeshire have been given free copies of a book explaining the dangers of plastic to the oceans, in both English and Welsh.

Duffy’s Lucky Escape follows the story of a young turtle and the dangers of plastic to the ocean environment.

Author Ellie Jackson, of Looe, Cornwall, wrote her debut children’s novel while living in Australia.

It was inspired by a year spent on a tropical island, during which she and her family saw a turtle being released back into the ocean after a year of treatment for ingesting plastic.

Ellie, an environmental scientist who taught geography for six years, decided to use the story as a way of educating young people about the threat to sea life of our dependence on plastic.

“The important thing is that the book reaches children and changes attitudes,” says Ellie, an ardent environmental campaigner.

“This is about protecting our environment for all creatures, including future generations.”

Because of the global nature of the problem of ocean plastics, Ellie wanted to get the books translated into as many different languages as possible so children around the world could understand the message, but had no idea that Welsh would be the first one.

Marten B Lewis of the Darwin Centre offered to work with Pembrokeshire College to have the books translated for free.

Marten also brought on board Kate Evan-Hughes Director of Children and Schools at Pembrokeshire County Council who is distributing the books to all primary schools in the county for free.

Marten Lewis said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to bring together partners enabling all pupils in Pembrokeshire access to the powerful messages about marine pollution at no cost to schools.”

Martin added he was also proud to have used his link with Oceans Alive in Kenya to have the book translated into Swahili.

“We are very proud to have been a part of such a movement to educate children all over the world,” he said.

Duffy’s Lucky Escape (or Dihangfa Lwcus Duffy) is illustrated by Australian artist Liz Oldmeadow.

More information about the book can be found at duffytheseaturtle.com