SORTING the rubbish from the recycling has earned children at Vigo Infant School an award for litter awareness.

At an assembly on Friday, Mayor Jan Lovell presented the school with the plaque as part of the Attitude of Gratitude campaign run by Manuela Wahnon.

Manuela has been visiting the school to encourage Andover’s future generation to help to keep litter off the town’s streets.

Mayor Lovell, said: “What I think was wonderful was that the children are so receptive; what they learn they take home and they spread the message, including to the adults.”

Councillor Ian Carr, Leader of Test Valley Borough Council, who was also at the presentation, said: “I thought today went very well.

“The children were well behaved and more importantly they knew their subject and the difference between litter and recycling.”

The campaign falls in with the school teaching the children to be responsible members of the community and to know the difference between good and bad choices.

Headteacher, Anne Perriam, said: “It is part of becoming a better person and improving where we live.

“Andover is a good place and anything we can do to make it better can only be a good thing. If you don’t love the place you are in then no one else will love it.”

The plaque will be mounted in the reception area at the school and the children were all given a mug to remember the occasion.

Speaking about the success of the campaign, Manuela said: “I want to start a rumour about being community minded, pro-active and not dropping litter.

“All I need is 50 per cent of the children to go out and spread the word and I consider that to be 100 per cent success.”