PRIMARY school children have persuaded the council to install litter bins in their home town as part of a project to keep their streets clean.

More than thirty year four pupils from Escomb Primary School, Escombe, near Bishop Auckland, stood up this week to tell their fellow students and teachers about what they can do to take pride in their town.

During assembly, the pupils explained how they had worked on the Pride Campaign and read the letters they had written to Groundwork West Durham and Wear Valley District Council.

Thanks to these letters, bins and signs have been put up around Escomb and a litter pick and tidy up was carried out by Groundwork's community caretakers at the village's amenity hall and recreation ground.

After spending two weeks putting together the presentation, the children also performed some mini plays depicting the various problems litter causes.

They produced posters and talked about the effects litter, dog fouling and vandalism has on their village.

Pride Campaign officer Joanne Morley said: "The children at Escomb Primary developed an extremely mature understanding of the many ways litter can have a detrimental effect on an area.

They have produced a very imaginative and informative presentation that has helped raise awareness among their peers and with staff and, of course, their parents."