More than 40 bags of litter were collected when local schoolchildren joined forces with road workers carrying out major improvements to junction 10 of the M6
Staff from County Bridge Primary School in Walsall invited workers to join their litter pick after members of the Junction 10 project team, who are carrying out a £78 million scheme to replace the busy junction, gave an assembly for pupils.
The new junction will widen the roundabout from two lanes to four and replace the existing bridges over the motorway.
The work is a joint venture between Highways England and Walsall Council, supported by the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership.
Staff from Highways England, Walsall Council and contractor John Sisk & Son volunteered their own time to work with pupils and staff from the school in Anson Road, Bentley, and members of the local community to clean up the area.
Concentrating on the Anson Road play area and adjacent woodland, the litter-pickers collected a total of 42 bags of rubbish.
Highways England Project Manager David Reed said:
Deputy Leader of Walsall Council, Councillor Adrian Andrew added:
Headteacher Mrs Rabia Patel said:
Around 200,000 bags of litter are collected from Highways England roads every year. Litter presents a serious safety risk besides being unsightly and a risk to wildlife and the environment.