YOUNGSTERS across the borough of Stockton are being offered the chance to pick up a reward if they care for their area.

Stockton Borough Council has joined forces with Hollywood Bowl, at Teesside Park, to run a litter reward scheme around a number of school sites.

The scheme, which is part of the council's Care For Your Area campaign to clean up the borough, means that pupils who are spotted by council staff using bins to dispose of their litter will be handed a voucher which they can use to get two bowling games for the price of one.

The idea behind the project, which starts today, is that it will encourage youngsters not to drop rubbish on streets.

Councillor Geoff Field, the council's cabinet member for the environment, said: "This will give pupils at these schools an extra incentive to act responsibly when disposing of their litter."

The scheme will initially focus on Northfield, Bishopsgarth, Blakeston, Conyers, Ian Ramsey CE Aided Comprehensive, St Patrick's RC Comprehensive and Thornaby Community School.

Councillor Steve Walmsley, cabinet member for Borough South, said: "Residents, quite rightly, are tired of seeing our streets strewn with litter and anything which acts as an incentive for all young people to put their rubbish in a bin has got to be good."

The scheme will initially run until November 30, but it is hoped that it will be repeated twice annually with a different group of schools targeted each time.

Council staff patrolling near the schools will wear distinctive clothing and carry identification badges at all times.