ARTISTIC youngsters across Wyre Forest are today given a wonderful opportunity to make their mark on a new recycling initiative - and help spread the Get Sorted! message.

District council chiefs are offering schoolchildren aged four to 14 the opportunity to design a poster to go on the new recycling vehicles which will be collecting newspaper, cardboard, glass, plastics, tins and textiles from homes in the area from September.

Entries will be judged in two age categories - four to nine and 10 to 14 - with £50 in gift vouchers going to the winner of each category.

The overall winner will then be selected to have their artwork transformed into a giant poster measuring three metres by two metres to go on the side of the new trucks.

As an added bonus one entry will be selected at random to receive £500 worth of computer gear for their school.

Rebecca Robinson, the council's new waste reduction officer, wants as many youngsters and schools as possible to join in the fun.

"The artwork will go on all the new recycling vehicles which will travel around the district. It's a great opportunity."

She said the designs must encourage people to recycle their rubbish and be colourful.

The entries will be judged by Shuttle/Times & News editor Clive Joyce and the council's portfolio holder for waste disposal.

The competition is designed to help promote Get Sorted!, the district's new kerbside recycling initiative which aims to dramatically improve recycling rates.

By the end of January some 82 per cent of all homes in the district will have a weekly collection for recycling, with their wheelie bins emptied every fortnight. The first batch of homes will switch to the new system in September, with more following in November and the bulk in January.

All first, middle and primary schools in the district will be sent entry details in the next fortnight for the unique competition. Anyone with queries can contact Rebecca Robinson on 01562 732906.