PRIMARY school children are helping kick litter into touch in their local community.

Children from the Elm Academy have joined forces with AFC Bournemouth and Bournemouth council to help clear and recycle the rubbish people drop near their school.

The youngsters have been going out on weekly litter picks in West Howe with AFC Bournemouth players and mascot Cherry Bear.

Before every expedition they are reminded what can be recycled and what is general rubbish and they are given a bag for each with the goal being that most items found will not go to waste.

Elm Academy head Helen Janda said: “The children have really enjoyed getting out and about and helping to make the local community a nicer environment.

“They get very excited about joining up with Cherry Bear and the players and they are helping to make a fantastic difference to their neighbourhood.

“The children are also learning valuable lessons about recycling and the damage litter can cause to the environment.”

The litter picks are part of Bournemouth’s award-winning Green Goals project.

This is a unique partnership linking football, the local council, education and business and aims to improve the environment, raise awareness and deliver benefits for the community as a whole.

Cherries commercial director Rob Mitchell said: “Working with local schools to spread impor-tant environmental messages through the Green Goals project is an important part of AFC Bournemouth’s corporate social responsibility programme.

“Football is a powerful medium to engage with young people and we work hard as a club to help improve the local area.”