Youngsters who began their own litter picking campaign in Shipley have been rewarded with a trip to City Hall to receive Certificates of Thanks from the Deputy Lord Mayor councillor Shabir Hussain and Council Leader councillor Susan Hinchcliffe.

Rebecca Warren, 11, and Layla May, eight, along with their mums and Rebecca’s brother Marshall, 10, were given a tour of the historic civic building after tea and cakes in the Lord Mayor’s Rooms.

The girls began their initiative three months ago after feeling upset to witness people dropping litter on the streets near their home in Windhill. After being given protective gloves by their mums, they began spending time after school almost every day and at weekends picking litter up from the area Hawthorn Avenue and Festival Avenue.

They also designed and put up posters asking people to put their litter in the bin instead of dumping it on the street.

Soon other pals began to help and when their efforts were noticed by a Neighbourhood Warden the youngsters were provided with litter pickers, bags and high-viz jackets by Bradford Council.

Teachers at the local school also organised a special litter themed assembly after they discovered what they had been doing.

Cllr Hussain said: “It’s amazing to see such community-minded work done by our young people without any prompting by anyone else.

“They have set a great example to us all and it’s only fair that their efforts to try and improve the local environment should be recognised. I wish there were more people like them.”

Cllr Hinchcliffe, who is also a Windhill and Wrose Ward Councillor, said: “The girls have set a great example which has encouraged others to join them in their efforts to make a positive contribution to the local community.

“They are worthy citizens of Bradford and we were happy to present them with their certificates to let them know how much we appreciate their efforts.”