Winners of a litter-awareness competition were awarded prizes by the Mayor of Brentwood last week at Brentwood County High School.

Brentwood Borough Council's Streetscene team first visited the school earlier in March to talk about the importance of not dropping litter and also recycling and reuse as ways to reduce the amount going to landfill.

The pupils were put into seven groups to collect rubbish from around the school and the surrounding areas including: King George's Playing Fields, Middleton Hall Lane, Shenfield Common, Ingrave Road, Madeira Walk and Mount Crescent, and separate what could be recycled into orange bags.

Last week the Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Vicky Davies, presented the runners up of the 'design a poster' competition with chocolates and the winner with a £50 voucher.

The runners up were: Niall Bryne Sibel Yusuf Alice Goldhill Emma Ince Amber Whitmore Abigal Tentner Isabelle Bowsher and the winner was Lucy Fox.

The school was also presented with posters of the runners' up and winners' designs.

The Mayor of Brentwood, Councillor Vicky Davies, said: "The pupils designed posters about what they had learnt during the litter-awareness event with the theme 'the ground is not your bin'.

"The entries were brilliant and I was impressed there were so many of them.

"They were enthusiastic and wanted to continue recycling, which is what it is all about."

Adam Smyth, from Brentwood County High School, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mayor to our school and are thrilled our wonderful students had the opportunity to serve their community by taking part in the waste awareness activities organised by the Streetscene team.

"It was delightful to see the whole of year 7 taking part in the poster competition and celebrating the eventual winner Lucy Fox.”