A NEW weapon has been unveiled in the war against grime, litter and shabbiness in Wyre Forest.

Mr Grimestopper hit the streets at the official launch of the campaign to clean up the district - being jointly run by Wyre Forest District Council and the Shuttle/Times and News.

The colourful mascot is the brainchild of 13-year-old Ashley Perks, while Erin Thompson, 11, came up with the official slogan "Grime's A Crime".

A freephone hotline has also been launched this week for people to report problem areas, and will lead to the creation of an "eyesore register".

The campaign emerged following a Shuttle/Times and News feature which highlighted shameful scenes of litter, graffiti and vandalism in Kidderminster.

And 571 children from 14 district schools came up with ideas for a mascot and slogan to spearhead the crusade, with the £150 prize being split between Ashley, who attends Lickhill Middle School in Stourport, and Erin, a pupil at Bewdley's Wribbenhall Middle School.

The official launch was held at Stourminster School in Kidderminster, which received a certificate for submitting the highest number of competition entries.

Shuttle/Times and News editor Clive Joyce and Ken Stokes, district council portfolio holder for community life, health and safety, presented the prizes.

Simon Trickett, of the council's cultural, leisure and commercial services department, said: "Our clean-up initiative is designed to raise awareness of a number of issues in the Wyre Forest area that affect the environment we live in and our quality of life.

"The intention is that everybody with a stake in the cleanliness of the district, from local businesses to residents, council staff and councillors, will contribute to improving the current situation."

The council is reviewing street cleansing in order to concentrate resources in areas where they are most needed, while special manned street-cleaning machines worth a total of £97,000 will be put to work in Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport town centres next month.

A £40,000 scheme to ensure every district road has a sign, and graffiti is removed from existing signs, is also in the pipeline.

The problem of dog fouling will be tackled with additional dog litter bins, while July will see councillors leading constituents in ward litter picks.

Wyre Forest firms will also be urged to sign up to a voluntary code of practice on cleanliness, with those that come up to scratch being featured in a Shuttle/Times and News roll of honour.

The litter blackspot hotline is 0800 085 2330, while more information about the campaign is available from the cultural, leisure and commercial services department on 01562 732928.