A CANINE celebrity who rose to fame by giving villagers the run-around for months is helping to encourage youngsters to take pride in their neighbourhood.

Crafty collie Dwain visited schools in Sedgefield yesterday during environment workshops aimed at reminding children to keep the streets clean.

Sedgefield Borough Council's environment team enlisted the playful pooch, and Scooby Doo, for sessions at Sedgefield County and Hardwick Primary Schools.

Children were told not to drop litter, to ensure that dog owners clean up after their pets and learned that people can be fined or taken to court for dumping rubbish.

Enforcement officer Andy Denham said: "We want to get the message through to young people with a series of school workshops so they don't adopt bad habits and so they can encourage other people in the community to keep the area clean and tidy."

Dwain was first spotted by staff at Sedgefield Racecourse, and for six months he evaded would-be captors until he was caught in January and given a home by racecourse commercial executive Cassandra Jackson.

Headteacher at Sedgefield Hardwick Primary School Gill Coulson said: "Litter and dog fouling are horrible problems. Hopefully, the children will remember the workshop's message, especially as it has come from someone outside."