SCHOOLS in Harlow are entering the innovative Clean up and Win competition, which offers 'green' prizes for carrying out recycling projects.

Four Harlow schools - St James Primary, Paringdon Junior, Stewards and Hare Street Community Primary - will be competing against over 70 Essex schools over a six-week period, by trying to collect as many plastic bottles as possible for recycling.

The schools that run the best projects will be in with a chance of scooping some eco-friendly prizes including: an environmental garden to encourage wildlife, solar-powered weather station, fountains and bird baths.

The competition is designed to encourage school children to think about the environment and wildlife, whilst providing practical lesson in recycling and ecological issues.

The winners will be announced on November 13. Environment and community committee chairman Eddie Johnson said: "It's essential we equip young people with the knowledge and ethos of preserving the environment and this competition delivers all the right messages in a fun and interactive way.

"By linking the recycling project to prizes which will enhance the school's environment, the Go Green 4 Schools scheme helps children make connections between each person's individual actions and the effect upon the environment.

"The prizes on offer certainly provide an excellent incentive for students to make a concerted effort to recycle, and will provide the winning schools with excellent opportunities to run exciting, hands on ecology-based projects."