A grassroots project to keep Brent tidy has been launched by an army of school litter pickers.

Brent & Kilburn Times: Roe Green Junior School students litter picking in the streets around Kingsbury.Roe Green Junior School students litter picking in the streets around Kingsbury. (Image: © Nigel Sutton email pictures@nigelsuttonphotography.com)

In response to an increase in rubbish being left outside schools around Kingsbury, a community project has sprung up between several primary schools to work together and keep the area clean.

First to take to the streets, armed with rubbish bags and litter pickers, were staff and students from Roe Green Junior School, who started along Princes Avenue.

Deputy head Yvonne D’souza said: “Our first litter picking was very successful. The children not only enjoyed getting involved in the community clear-up, but they also prompted discussions among the residents which was wonderful.”

Year 6 student Andreea Rotariu said: “We’ve decide to take action, there’s so much litter being dropped by people thinking that someone else can pick it up.

“We want to set an example to our community and make them realise that we have to work together to clean up our area.

“When we were litter picking during our lunchtime, we met two residents who thanked us for caring because they too were upset about the mess.”

Fellow pupil Maisa Al-Jalal, who is in Year 3, said: “We want to make sure our community is clean and environmentally friendly.”

Year 4 student Nevena Balabanova said: “It is important to keep our environment and community tidy because we want to show that Brent is a lovely place to live.

“People who live here need to make sure they put their litter in the bins – Keep Brent Tidy!”

There will now be a series of litter picking mornings held at Kingsbury schools for the next four months.