Schoolchildren are helping to spread the word about keeping County Durham’s streets litter-free.
Pupils from three primary schools in Crook have designed posters encouraging people to dispose of their litter responsibly.
The youngsters were challenged to come up with the designs as part of a project by the 3 Towns Partnership and Durham County Council’s civic pride team to raise awareness among young people of environmental issues.
One winner from each school was chosen to have their design made into a poster to be displayed by local businesses.
The initiative also saw representatives from the AAP and civic pride team leading assemblies at each of the participating schools.
Sandy Denney, AAP coordinator, said: “It was very obvious that the children had really taken on board the messages from the litter assemblies as the standard of the posters was very high – it was so hard picking just one winner from each school.”
The three winners were Joel Cowen, Year 3, from St Cuthbert’s RCVA Primary School, Alisha Coleman, Year 4, from Crook Primary School, and Eve Rutherford, Year 6, from Hartside Primary School.
Each winner was presented with a £10 shopping voucher and a certificate by Tidy Ted, Durham County Council’s anti-litter mascot.
Dropping litter is an offence for which people can be issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice (FPN). If they fail to pay the FPN they can be taken to court and fined up to £2,500.
To report litter, visit www.durham.gov.uk/litter or call 03000 261 000.