FIFTEEN children from Darwen's Whitehall ward who worked to clean their streets have won praise from Blackburn with Darwen. Fifteen children from the Whitehall ward used their initiative to fill four skips of rubbish over a 48 hour period. Councillor Mohammed Khan, executive member for housing and neighbourhoods, said: "The scheme was part of the Thrash The Trash initiative and the council emptied two of the four skips on Saturday and the other two on Sunday.

"I am delighted that people in this community are taking pride in their area and supporting the work we are doing in improving the local environment. We cannot do this alone and we rely totally on support from the local community and from dedicated people like these children."

Councillor Karimeh Foster, Whitehall ward, said: "They should be an example to the rest of the community."

Among the helpers were, from the left, Reece Lowery, Connor Lowery, Shaun Corran and Kallum Banks.