MORE than a thousand junior recycling champions entered an art poster competition as part of a council's drive to improve the environment.

To celebrate the winning entries, Chester-le-Street District Council has arranged for the posters to be displayed at the Civic Centre.

The members of Chester's Champion Recycler's Club were invited to draw, paint or design a poster to promote recycling across the district as part of the council's campaign to increase participation in the kerbside recycling collection.

Council arts officer Jo-Anne Mason and environmental strategy co-ordinator Mike Keenlyside chose 25 winning entries for the exhibition, part of the Chester's Champion Recyclers project.

Environment portfolio holder Councillor Alan Holden said: "By looking at the standards of these posters, we can see that our children take recycling and the environment very seriously indeed.

"We now have to encourage parents and grandparents who don't participate in recycling to do the same."

The exhibition is on view in the main reception and cash desk area of the civic centre.