PUPILS from Allendale Primary School have been getting their hands dirty as part of a national initiative to improve the look of their village.

Children from the school have been joining members of the community since the start of the month on the Great British Spring Clean in an effort to clean up the village.

The countrywide project, which ran from March 22 until April 23, saw half a million people across the UK partnering with community organisations, businesses and the government to collect and dispose of litter from roads, paths, and parks, whilst recycling as much as possible.

Allendale parish councillor Valeria Dunn said: "This countrywide initiative involves people in improving the environment on their doorstep.

"Allendale is proud to support this initiative and will endeavour to maintain a litter free environment within the village and the surrounding countryside."

The Great British Spring Clean is organised by charity Keep Britain Tidy, which was formed in the 1960s.

535,000 people took part in thousands of events this year, smashing last year's record of 374,000 and making it the country's biggest ever mass-action environmental campaign.