A SERIES of campaigns has been planned to try to improve the York area and make residents proud of their community.

City of York Council is kick-starting its Neighbourhood Pride campaigns with a programme of six initiatives.

Each campaign will run for six to eight weeks, with the first one promoting recycling in York schools during February and March.

In April and May the council will be running a spring clean campaign to improve the city's environment. The York In Bloom campaign in June in July will improve the appearance of the city and a Community Safety campaign will run in the summer in conjunction with the Safer York Partnership.

From September, the council will be focusing a campaign on students, helping them play their part in their local communities, working with student organisations to support students throughout the city. The final campaigns will include an environmental campaign over the Christmas period to promote recycling and a campaign to promote recycling and sustainability awards early in 2009.

Terry Collins, director of neighbourhood services at the council, said: "The council is committed to listening to communities and helping them improve their environments. These campaigns for 2008 will support our residents by improving their local areas and making York a better place to live."

Andrew Waller, the council's executive member for neighbourhood services, said: "There is an enthusiastic team to get on and deliver the campaigns, and I hope that the public will give their full support."