WINNING artwork from school pupils is to be used in towns and villages across Essex as part of an anti-littering campaign.

Primary school pupils from across Tendring put their creative talents to use in an attempt to get across a “powerful” anti-littering message.

Schools throughout the district took part in a special campaign which was launched this term.

Tendring District Council (TDC) set up the initiative and gave pupils the task of coming up with posters which would make everyone think twice about littering. The overall winner of the competition was five-year-old Adam Churchill, from Holland Park School in Clacton.

He was chosen by the judges as the best from the Key Stage 1 section, while nine-year-old Alexis Jangdhari, from Clacton’s Alton Park Junior School, took first place in the Key Stage 2 category.

Adam’s artistic ability won his school a seating area – partly funded by TDC’s contractors Veolia – and an environmental sustainability education day from Essex County Council’s waste and recycling team.

Lynda McWilliams, cabinet member for the environment at TDC, and one of the judges, said she was very impressed by the children’s efforts. She said: “We had more than 250 entries, which was fantastic.

“The pupils were all asked to think about new and exciting ways to illustrate their concerns about the environment in terms of litter.

“Hopefully the posters will inspire everyone to think again before they drop rubbish themselves.”

Both of the winners in each section will have their artwork reproduced and distributed to schools, towns and parishes and council buildings around the district.

The posters will be used to support a county-wide anti-litter drive.