MORE than 1,000 junior recycling champions entered an art poster competition as part of a council's drive to improve the environment.

Chester-le-StreetDistrict Council has arranged for the winning posters to go on display at the Civic Centre.

The members of Chester's Champion Recyclers Club were invited to draw, paint or design a poster to promote recycling across the district as part of the authority's campaign to increase participation in the kerbside recycling collection.

Council arts officer Jo-Anne Mason and environmental strategy co-ordinator Mike Keenlyside chose 25 winning entries to be used in the exhibition, staged as part of the Chester's Champion Recyclers project.

Environment portfolio holder Coun Alan Holden said: "By looking at the standards of these posters, we can see that our children take recycling and the environment very seriously indeed.

"We now have to encourage parents and grandparents who don't participate in recycling to do the same."