PUPILS and staff at St Mary's School, Newchurch, were in celebratory mood this week as they prepared to collect two trophies in Lancashire's Best Kept Village Competition.

The juniors won two awards and the infants finished runners-up after they impressed judges with their efforts to improve the village environment. Trophies will be presented by the county council's chief executive tomorrow (Saturday).

Seven to 11-year-old children wrote a report on how visitors to Newchurch could help keep things tidy by putting litter in bins. They also sent residents leaflets on waste collection, street cleaning and recycling. The four to seven-year-olds designed a poster about recycling.

Headteacher Suzanne Waller told the Citizen: "We are all very pleased because the children all worked hard on the project. Last year we were commended but this is the first time we have won."

She added: "Before writing their report the children went round the village, and there was quite a lot of litter about that day.

"They decided that things could be improved if more people who visit the village put litter in bins, and if more bins were provided."

A spokesman for the competition said: "The entries were of a very high standard and presented the judges with a very difficult task when selecting the winners."

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