An army of young litter pickers from a Black Country primary school have been cleaning up pathways around the area where they live.

Pupils from Glebefields Primary School in Tipton set out to prove that children are not the main culprits when it comes to litter as part of Sandwell’s Big Spring Clean campaign.

And they wanted to show that youngsters were capable of putting something back into their community.

A group of 30 pupils collected more than 30 bags of litter along a pathway near the Sandgate Road school, putting them in the running to win the campaign’s top prize for the second year running.

The school has taken part in the Big Spring Clean campaign for the last three years.

Headmaster Colin Dewis said: “Our kids enjoy taking part every year and they see and understand the benefits of the campaign and keeping their area litter free.

“The kids here are proud of where they live and learn and are enthusiastic about helping to keep the neighbourhood clean.” He added: “As a result of the Big Spring Clean, we are setting up further occasions when pupils will target different spots around the school with some litter picking.”

The Big Spring Clean campaign has 74 schools registered to take part. This year’s Big Spring Clean has attracted more volunteers than any other voluntary initiative in Sandwell.

The campaign is on track to smash last year’s 3,500 volunteers record and is hope could hit the 5,000 mark.

Last week pupils from George Salter Collegiate Academy in West Bromwich spent two hours picking up litter in the Swan Village area.