Environment-conscious children at Otterton Primary School have been designing posters urging people not to drop litter.

A competition was sponsored by Budleigh Salterton Lions Club, who also provided art materials for the school as prizes.

Last month the youngest pupils took part in a beach clean with the Lions, and the poster competition was a natural follow-up.

After a meeting with the school's Ethos Group it was decided that two winners would be chosen, but the prizes should be awarded to the whole group.

Lions Richard Allen and Gill Wilson visited the school to judge the competition on Friday, October 20.

Richard said: "We were delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor this poster competition. The children are passionate about keeping their environment litter free and we are keen to help them in any way we can.

"It was incredibly difficult to choose two winners; all the posters had a fantastic message and were colourful and imaginative. I'm really looking forward to seeing them around the village."

Emma Cocker from the school said: "The children are passionate about keeping our local environment clean. Some of the children have asked if they can do a litter pick with their families - absolutely! We would love as many children as possible to actively look after our environment .... let's all get behind the children and support them in promoting change."   

The Lions Club has already offered to sponsor the poster competition again next year and is hoping to do a similar competition with other local schools.

Richard said: "The environment is one of our five global causes and by carrying out regular litter picking and beach cleans we can help to reduce the amount of plastic and other waste materials in our oceans and in our local environment.  Lions Clubs International believes that our environment is more than a background: it’s our home, and we’re committed to caring for it."

Anyone interested in helping out with litter picking and/or beach cleans can contact Budleigh Salterton Lions Club via its website.