Youngsters at a County Durham primary school showed they were true eco champions as they helped launch a major litter picking campaign.
Pupils from Cockton Hill Junior School were invited to Locomotion in Shildon for the launch of this year’s Big Spring Clean, led by Durham County Council.
The annual campaign, which runs until May 5, encourages people to look after where they live by taking part in organised litter picks across the county or arranging one of their own.
The pupils, who are all eco champions at their school, met the council’s vice chair, Cllr Patricia Jopling, and cabinet member for neighbourhoods and climate change, Cllr Mark Wilkes.
The group was then joined by the council’s litter picking mascot, Tidy Ted, and headed off on a litter pick around the museum’s grounds.
Cllr Wilkes said: “The Big Spring Clean has been going for more than a decade and is one of the biggest annual environmental campaigns in the region.
“Last year, more than 4,000 volunteer hours were given at 450 events across the county and we hope that even more people and organisations will get involved this year.
“It was great to launch this year’s Big Spring Clean with pupils from Cockton Hill Junior School.
“By engaging with young people about the importance of looking after our planet, we can encourage them to develop environmentally positive habits for the future.”
Locomotion was chosen as the location to launch this year’s Big Spring Clean to coincide with the S&DR200 Festival, celebrating the bicentenary of the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
People can join in with the Big Spring Clean at a number of litter picking events which are taking place across the county.
Anyone who would like to organise their own litter pick for the campaign can borrow equipment from the council by contacting [email protected]. The civic pride team also provides litter picking equipment to residents year round.
For more information about the Big Spring Clean, visit www.durham.gov.uk/bigspringclean