SCHOOL pupils are encouraging residents in Dumbarton and the Vale to “keep Bellsmyre beautiful” while they take to the streets to collect litter.

Youngsters from Our Lady and St Patrick’s High School (OLSP) were joined by pupils from Aitkenbar and St Peter’s primaries and children from Bellsmyre Early Learning and Childcare Centre to collect litter from the areas surrounding the schools.

The litter pick, organised in partnership with conservation charity Keep Scotland Beautiful, aimed to raise awareness of litter and pollution.

The children want to make Bellsmyre a cleaner place to live and to give the community a sense of pride, as well as reminding people that littering is unacceptable.

Pupils from OLSP have been focusing on environmental and sustainability issues in light of the COP26 conference in Glasgow last year.

They produced business plans for local organisations to help them become more sustainable during an ICT lesson.

Meanwhile, in science the concept of renewable energies and pollution was explored. Pupils studying social subjects looked at increasing populations and the impact this has on the world’s natural resources and in English they studied the poems about the environment.

Councillor Karen Conaghan, convener of educational services, said: “I am delighted so many of our young people are passionate about the environment and happy to go out and pick up litter that should have been put in the bin.

“If we can educate from a young age how bad pollution is for our world we can hopefully do our bit to help the environment.”

Children at Bellsmyre ELCC are working towards their Green Flag Award.

The centre has set up an ECO Committee along with children from Andrew B Cameron ELCC who will take part in weekly litter picks and supported by parents who have a shared vision of keeping Bellsmyre beautiful.

The centre also set up a pledge tree, asking families what one thing they would change as a family to support the environment.

Councillor Ian Dickson, vice convener of educational services, said: “I’m sure their efforts will encourage residents to bin their rubbish and not throw away their litter.

“We know many residents respect our environment and I would encourage the minority of residents who choose not to bin their litter to ensure they take it home instead.