HIGH school students in Wyre Forest will soon be learning about the importance of binning their rubbish as part of a new project by a local litter-picking group.

After securing a £611 grant from the district council, The Pickup Artists are rolling out classes to schools across the district about the consequences of dropping litter.

The group hopes the environmentally-friendly message will help them to recruit teenagers to pick up litter around their schools and join the already-established Junior Pickup Artists, currently made up of primary school students from 10 schools in the area.

Pickup Artists leader Michelle Medler said: "After the success we have had with the Junior Pickup Artists it is an amazing opportunity to extend our provision into secondary schools.

“With the new equipment and enthusiasm the younger generation has about waste and single plastic we hope we can change some habits, littering being the main one."

The group's goal is to loan litter picking equipment on a term-by-term basis to high schools in Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley.

Wyre Forest District Council leader Marcus Hart said: "The Pickup Artists are a shining example of local people coming together to positively impact the district.

"We have worked closely with the group throughout the past few years, providing them with litter-picking equipment and black bags as well as disposing of collected litter.

“I’m delighted our community localism fund has helped them purchase new litter-picking equipment and I’m sure their Junior Pickup Artists group will continue to grow after they visit local high schools."

For more information visit the pickupartists.co.uk.