Children from schools in and around Durham City have been competing to encourage people to use cleaner methods of transport as part of a national air pollution campaign.
As part of the national Clean Air Day campaign, pupils from schools in and around the city learnt about ways to reduce levels of air pollution before entering a design competition to promote the issue to the public.
The children created a range of inspiring posters and banners promoting environmentally friendly forms of transport and the lifestyle changes people can implement to make the air cleaner.
The competition was judged by Living Streets, who are working with Durham County Council to encourage families to travel to school by alternative methods other than by car, which promote physical and mental wellbeing as well as contributing to cleaner air by reducing the number of motor vehicles and congestion in our city.
Laurel Avenue Community Primary School was announced as the competition winner, with the winning banner and poster designed by Ellie Story (age 11, Year 6), and the runner up poster designed by Daniel Grundy (age 9, Year 4).
Ellie’s winning banner and poster have been professionally printed and displayed outside the school to help spread the clean air message.
Andy Leadbeater, Durham County Council’s integrated passenger transport manager, said: “Clean Air Day is held every year to help raise awareness of air pollution and the different ways that people can work towards making the air cleaner.
“We had some fantastic posters designed by school pupils as part of this year’s campaign, which I’m sure will inspire others to think about how they can help to reduce air pollution levels and how their actions can improve both their own health and the health of others.”
Organisations who would like to deliver their own projects about air quality and the environment can download a range of free resources from the Clean Air Day website at www.cleanairday.org.uk.
