The Cornish Times has been contacted by pupils at a Saltash school who are concerned about the trapping and killing of dolphins.

Youngsters at St Stephen's school, Long Park Road, were so incensed by the news that 400 dolphins have been washed up on beaches on the western coast of France that they wrote to ask if any Cornish Times' readers had ideas for a new design for dolphin-friendly fishing nets.

They had been studying a news article which featured French scientist, Anne Collet, who highlighted the number of dolphins dying in Spanish and French fishermen's nets.

Daniel of class two, aged l0, wrote: 'I think it is important we all take this subject seriously because, for example, would you like your children and grandchildren to see dolphins in the future? I've seen dolphins in Looe, and it is a great experience.'

Eleven-year-old Matthew said: 'I really like dolphins because I was ill on holiday and I saw a dolphin that cheered me up a lot. Have any of your readers got any ideas how I can help them?'

The idea of a petition was floated by nine-year-old Michael, who also wrote: 'I have met a dolphin in the aqua park in Tenerife, and was able to touch one and they are very special to me. Please could we change the law about nets?'

Carl, aged ten, said he was worried that Atlantic dolphins may become extinct. He explained: 'I would like to help save the dolphins by designing a new type of fishing net, because this is what is killing them. French and Spanish trawlers are using funnel nets over l00m wide.' He urged Cornish Times readers to help the dolphins by urging more people to become interested in the problem.