A Vale school has won a cash prize of hundreds of pounds for its anti-littering campaign.

Pupils from Ashton-under-Hill First School claimed first prize in the competition, run by District Council, and the school was awarded £500.

Schools across the district were challenged to produce a 60 second film on the subject of littering, and in return they would receive money to spend on an environmental project of their choice.

They impressed the judges with their Do not litter Keep Nature Fitter video, focused on the impact littering has on wildlife and included interviews with officials from the RSPCA and the Environment Agency as well as anti-littering messages.

Juliet Shiels, teaching assistant at Ashton-under-Hill First School and involved with their eco-projects, said: "This is something the children were really keen to be involved with and we’re delighted to have won. We’re planning to spend the money on a bird nest camera and have some projects and activities planned around bird nesting."

Bredon Hancock’s Endowed C of E First School took second spot and was awarded £150 for their video which featured children discussing the subject of littering in a news style programme, including an exclusive interview with a litter eating monster.

Pershore High School came third and received £50 for their video which challenged people to think about what kind of world they wanted to live in, one with littering and one without.

The money was provided by sponsors Severn Waste, which runs the Envirosort Plant at Norton where the district’s recycling is dealt with, and FCC Environment, responsible for keeping Wychavon’s streets litter free.

Councillor Emma Stokes, Wychavon’s portfolio holder for environment and street scene, presented the prizes to pupils during a recent event at the Envirosort plant. Children were also given a tour of the facility and saw for themselves how recycling is sorted and then processed ready to be sent off and reused.

Cllr Stokes said: "We were really impressed with the standard of the videos received. We hope this will help promote the message to young and old that littering is not acceptable. It damages our environment, endangers our wildlife and is costly to clean up."