CHILDREN at Wyre Forest first schools are being encouraged to keep their surroundings tidy for a chance to win £200 as part of a county-wide environment project.

Wyre Forest District Council's Pride in Your Area - Pride in Your School scheme enables pupils and teachers to register to have a council representative judge how tidy their grounds are.

The winner will be announced before Christmas and awarded £200 towards environmental improvements.

The Pride in Your Area initiative is intended to educate businesses, schools and the local community about the effects of littering and dog-fouling throughout the district, as well as encouraging all sectors of the community to be more careful regarding their surroundings.

The public-awareness scheme also aims to highlight environmental issues, including the quantity of litter generated and collected, the cost of litter collection and preventing people discarding chewing gum, cigarette ends and unwanted packaging along streets and footpaths.

Cultural, leisure and commercial services officers from the council will be visiting first schools to talk to children to increase their awareness of issues including recycling, litter, dog fouling and abandoned vehicles.

Glyn Edwards, street scene manager, said: "This is a great way to get schools and young people involved in taking a pride in their surroundings. It is important to try to encourage children as young as possible to be part of their community."

For information on Pride in Your Area, contact Wyre Forest District Council's Customer Services on 01562 732928.