A POSTER designed by a creative schoolgirl is to be used to promote recycling.

Durham County Council ran a competition for primary school pupils designing posters to inform people about what can be recycled and which recycling container they should use for different items.

Sophia Winship, an eight-year-old pupil at St Benet’s RC Primary School, in Ouston, was chosen as the winner.

Her poster will now be produced for use in schools, libraries and other community buildings and will also be printed onto reusable cotton bags.

Her classmates will also benefit after her school was presented with a rainbow junior picnic bench, made from 1,430 recycled milk containers and donated by local firm Marmax Products Ltd.

The competition was part of the council’s Bin it Right campaign in June.

Paula George, who works in the strategic waste management team at Durham County Council, said: “We asked primary school pupils to design a colourful poster with a catchy slogan to encourage people to recycle at home.

“Pupils from ten schools took part and between them they submitted 433 entries. There were some exciting designs and it was a difficult decision to pick the winner.”

Jackie Robshaw, general manager of Marmax Products Ltd, said: “We were delighted to offer a prize as part of Durham County Council’s poster competition and hope that Sophia and everyone at St Benet’s RC Primary School enjoy using the picnic bench.”

People can find out more about what they can recycle at www.durham.gov.uk/whatgoeswhere