"In my street I have noticed empty cans and water bottles, tissues, wood, crisp packets, pegs, sweet wrappers, carrier bags, papers, leaflets, plastic cord, sharp objects, dirty gloves and a broken pen. It is disgraceful."

These observations have been made by a pupil at Barkerend Primary School, where children are taking part in an innovative clean-up project.

“In my street I have noticed sweet wrappers, crisps, bottles and other things,” writes another youngster. “If it is cleaned up it will be beautiful and if not it will look like a junk yard.”

Children from the school, in Hendford Drive, carried out surveys in their local streets, and completed questionnaires listing the items of rubbish they saw as they walked to and from home.

This information is collated and passed to Bradford Council’s neighbourhood wardens, who will take action. Areas to be cleaned up will be identified and the problem will be tackled.

The scheme is the first of its kind in Bradford involving children taking on the role of mini neighbourhood wardens.

Next year there will be a special day of action to tackle the problems highlighted by the children.

“They are acting as junior wardens,” says Ishaq Shafiq, area development officer with Bradford Council’s north area co-ordinator’s office, to which the Council’s wardens are attached. “They are helping the real wardens to identify environmental problems.

“A lot of the children are mentioning the same things,” he adds. “They are noticing sweet wrappers, plastic carriers, cans, bottles and other litter.”

A series of environmental workshops are being held in the school, with wardens talking to youngsters about littering and its negative effects on the neighbourhood. A poster competition to prevent people dropping litter is also planned.

Two children from each class are spearheading the project and being trained in what to look out for. “Children are acting as positive role models in the school, championing their particular street and helping to make it clean and tidy,” says project co-ordinator Donna Harper.

“The project also helps youngsters and parents get to know the neighbourhood wardens, forging closer links with them.”

She adds: “Research shows that if a child tells their parents they are unhappy with something, their parents will try and remedy the situation. Pupils are going home and saying they don’t like their street to be untidy. They love the fact that they can do something about it and help to make a difference.”

Class representatives are also helping on a practical level, given high-visibility jackets and shown how to safely practise litter picking in the streets surrounding their school. “We have shown them how to use litter pickers, and told them that they must keep their gloves on,” says neighbourhood warden Kevin Brook.

“And they have been told who their parents can contact if larger items of waste, such as sofas or broken white goods need removing, or if gulleys are blocked or drains broken.”

The project follows a leaflet drop in the area, giving contact telephone numbers for rubbish- clearing services.

The pastoral team at Barkerend Primary School has helped to involve every pupil. “We are really excited by this project,” says its leader Julie Elias-Winter. “I think it is important for our children to help keep the area a clean and safe environment, and it’s vital that parents get involved too.”

It is hoped that the project will go some way in teaching the children and adults to respect their environment, and not to throw away litter themselves.

“We are educating them to take responsibility for their actions and take pride in their neighbourhood.”

Says neighbourhood warden Sohrab Baig: “We are raising awareness among the children and they are so enthusiastic – they are thrilled that they are actively helping to make their neighbourhood a better place.”

To report an item of waste that has been dumped in your area, ring Bradford Council on (01274) 431000.