HUNDREDS of schoolchildren have been competing to design the winning mascot and slogan for a massive district-wide clean-up campaign.

The Shuttle/Times and News has entered into a unique partnership with Wyre Forest District Council following an article which highlighted problems such as litter, graffiti, dog mess and vandalism in Kidderminster.

And the battle to banish grime from the whole district is gathering pace.

Twenty schools are expected to have submitted about 800 entries to the mascot competition in time for tomorrow's closing date.

The designs and accompanying slogans will be judged in three age categories with one overall winner being chosen to spearhead the campaign.

Shuttle/Times and News editor Clive Joyce will be judging the designs next week with Councillor Ken Stokes, portfolio holder for community life, health and safety.

Designs are being judged in three categories - five to nine-year-olds, 10-13 years and 14-18 years - with prizes for the top three entries in each.

The winner will be unveiled at the campaign's launch next month.

May will also see the start of a new hotline which people can ring to complain about grime hotspots - leading to the creation of an "eyesore register".

In June, three brand new manned street cleaning machines worth £97,000 will be put to work in Kidderminster, Bewdley and Stourport town centres.

The clean-up scheme also involves the council spending thousands of pounds on replacing vandalised street signs and efforts to wipe out the problem of dog fouling.

There is a £150 prize for the youngster who comes up with the winning design and they will be the proud creator of a symbol and slogan which will be used to unite communities in the quest to make Wyre Forest a cleaner place to live, work and visit.