TWO Rivers Housing has launched a pilot project with pupils at a Coleford school to improve their local community.

Children at St John's Church of England Academy are the first to join this new initiative where they become the 'eyes and ears of their community' and help keep the area around their school safe and tidy.

The group of 10 and 11-year-olds, including a third who live in Two Rivers homes, have signed up as 'junior wardens' and pledge to clamp down on litter, parking hazards and dog mess in their town.

The students started by identifying the issues that caused them the greatest concern in the areas where they live and top of the list were speeding cars, cars parked on pavements, litter, dog fouling, graffiti and vandalism.

"The junior wardens are the eyes and ears of their community and it's great they want to be involved," said Jane Cordier, Two Rivers' community projects co-ordinator. "It's powerful to hear the children talk about the things that concern them about where they live and we hope the adults will respond positively to the messages they're sending.

"All the things they raised are in the control of the people who live in those areas, and it's about wanting to live in a nice place and having respect for your neighbours. It's in all our interests to have clean and tidy gardens and streets, and we will do our bit by working with residents and agencies such as the council and the police, to act upon the issues the children raise."

Monthly activities are planned for the children which include estate walkabouts, litter-picking, speed awareness and dog fouling awareness. Two Rivers is being supported by other local agencies, such as the police and the street warden from Forest of Dean District Council.

Julie Griffiths, deputy headteacher at St John's Academy, commented: "The children have been very enthusiastic about looking after the local environment. They have taken their role as junior wardens very seriously and are keen to see improvements in their neighbourhood. Thank you to everyone involved with the project."

If this project proves successful, Two Rivers will expand it by involving another school.