Jessica draws on talent for victory

11:52am Wednesday 30th April 2008

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A SIX-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl has beaten off competition from hundreds of older children to her artwork displayed around York.

Poppleton Road School pupil Jessica Nockels' design, on the theme of Recycling At School, was chosen from 550 others from 15 different schools, and will feature on City of York Council's school recycling lorry.

The competition was open to all pupils aged ten or under in York schools.

Jessica was one of the youngest children taking part. The win comes months she scooped top place in The Press's It's A Colourful Christmas competition.

The council's waste and recycling contest was run as part of the authority's Neighbourhood Pride campaign and links with a new initiative to improve the recycling service to York schools.

This year, for the first time, schools receive recycling collections once every fortnight, and each school has been provided with external recycling storage bins.

As well as having her winning design posted on the council's school recycling lorry, Jessica's school will receive a three-seater bench made from recycled plastic for its play area and recycling containers for the classrooms.

The second placed design was by Seren Metcalf, of Lakeside Primary School, who won the 7-11 age category.

Runners-up were, in the four to six age category, Ruby Ewing, of Scarcroft Primary School and Trudi Golding, of Poppleton Road Primary School. Runners-up in the 7-11 age category Megan Smith, of Carr Junior School and Chloe Hopper, of Lakeside Primary School.

All winners and runners-up will also receive some environmentally-friendly prizes in recognition of their efforts. Elizabeth Wray, of the council's waste and recycling team, said: "We've had a fantastic response to the competition and we are really impressed with the quality of entries received.

"York schoolchildren clearly understand the importance of recycling, which is brilliant.

"All York schools are now offered a recycling collection for paper, cardboard, plastic bottles, cans.

"We are collecting a total of about 5.5 tonnes of recyclable rubbish per week from the schools at present. This means that schools are recycling about 21 per cent of all the rubbish, which is an excellent start."