WIDNES children have joined more than a million people across the UK to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday by cleaning up their communities.

Pupils at Oakfield Community Primary School had a litter pick in their school grounds and neighbouring streets.

Head teacher Cath Khan said: “’Clean for the Queen’ was about everyone working together to give the country a big spring clean.

“The children worked really hard and were full of enthusiasm.

“They collected more over 40 bags of rubbish.”

Eco schools co-ordinators Ian Carson and Sue Colebrook said that the school grounds are generally very clean but the perimeter hedge collects rubbish blown in from outside.

Year four pupils Skye Dunn, George Hughes Metcalf and Melissa Fowle enjoyed the litter pick but were surprised how much rubbish did not belong to the school.

Year three pupil Janae McCann said: “There were loads of cans and bottles in the bushes.”

Pupil Maria Bokinczuk added: “Bottles can harm little animals.”