SPA schoolchildren will soon take part in a campaign to increase their awareness about litter recycling.

Students at Droitwich Spa High School, in Briar Mill, received a slice of £1m which is being handed out to schools across West Midlands by Barclays new futures scheme.

The £500 donation has made the project possible and will go towards launching the initiative which includes two competitions, aimed at ridding the school and its surroundings of litter.

The competitions are being organised by a group of sixth form students. The first one calls upon students to design a recycling bin. The winning design will be reproduced on bins around the school. The second prize will go to the class which recycles the most rubbish each half term.

One of the students who is helping to lead the project said: "We think that dropping litter is unsociable behaviour. The litter makes the school site unpleasant both visually and environmentally.

"If we can decrease the litter problem by making pupils more aware then we can improve our school environment for students, staff and visitors."

Barclays PLC's senior community affairs manager, Morag Pavich, said: "Since it began eight years ago, Barclays New Futures has provided students with the opportunity to become an active part in their community.

"It has helped them gain confidence in expressing their own views and recognising that they can make positive changes.

"We have seen many projects the students have created make a real and lasting difference in their local community," she added.