School strikes gold for taking care of neighbourhood

TEAM EFFORT: Tidy Ted pictured with Cotsford Junior School teacher Pauline Evans, who runs the school Eco Club, and members of the Eco Team.

The youngsters, from Cotsford Junior School, in Horden, were among pupils from across County Durham to be awarded the Gold Tidy Ted Badge Award.

Tidy Ted – Durham County Council’s anti-litter mascot – visited seven schools over the last month to recognise pupils who have made a difference to their neighbourhoods.

Among the other schools to be visited by Tidy Ted include Wheatley Hill Community Primary and Nursery School.

Schools were invited to nominate pupils who had taken part in different environmental activities, including litter picks, tidying their school or local area, community gardening projects and schemes to save water and electricity.

Members of the Eco Team at Cotsford Junior School were presented with certificates and gold award badges for their work to help the school retain its Eco School Green Flag status for the third time.

Pauline Walker, senior civic pride officer at the council, said: “We are delighted to reward hard-working children and teaching staff who take pride in their school grounds or local community.

“We have some wonderful environmental projects and everyone should be very proud of themselves.

“The children enjoyed meeting Tidy Ted.”