AN initiative at a Keighley primary school designed to encourage pupils to create positive changes in their communities is helping to spruce up the children's local neighbourhood.

Youngsters who are part of the Archbishop of York Youth Trust young leaders group in Worth Valley Primary have been staying behind in school on Monday evenings.

A spokesman for their school said: "The scheme's motto is to 'Be the change we want to see.'

"Pupils learn about key leadership skills, grow in character and have practical opportunities to volunteer and help others in their community.

"We have already done a walk around the Bracken Bank Estate with town councillor Christopher Herd and highlighted some of the issues that are problems.

"We are working with him to have more grit bins on the estate for the bad weather, and this has already meant the gritter wagons have cleared more roads around school.

"This week we did a litter pick of the park next to our school. In 30 minutes we managed to collect an astounding amount of rubbish.

"We have designed posters to remind people to put their rubbish into bins and will be putting them up around the area soon."