TWO schoolchildren were delighted to finally see their winning climate emergency poster designs on the side of South Lakeland District Council’s bin wagons.

Thomas Iveson, a year 5 pupil at Langdale CE School, won the years 5 and 6 category of the council’s recent design competition and Monika Witkowicz, a year 8 pupil from Cartmel Priory CE School, won the years 7 and 8 category.

The youngsters saw the designs in full effect when the wagons-which have been named Monika and Thomas- visited their schools last week.

They said they felt proud that their designs had been chosen and would be seen by thousands of people as they travel around the district every day.

Pupils from schools throughout South Lakeland were invited to create a poster inspiring people to act about climate change while giving ‘a clear and hopeful message’ about the benefits of a low-carbon world.

The council worked with experts from The University of Manchester to launch the competition, which attracted 68 entries from primary schools and 36 from secondary schools.

And the judging panel, made up of researcher Dr Laura Leay from Manchester University, Claire Brown, PhD researcher at Manchester’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; artist Jeni McConnell of local climate change action group PEAT; and Joe Cassidy, Business Development Manager at Newsquest Cumbria, said they were “blown away” by the quality of the 100-plus entries from primary and secondary schools across the area.

Some of the other entries will be used in SLDC social media campaigns and the council hopes to display all entries in Kendal Town Hall when Covid restrictions are lifted.

Councillor Dyan Jones, portfolio holder for climate action and biodiversity, said: "It was fantastic to see so many young people taking part and showing in such brilliant and varied ways their understanding of the challenges the climate emergency brings to us all.

"Thomas and Monika's designs were worthy winners and it is great to think they will be seen by thousands of people every week and play a part in prompting more people to consider what they can do to reduce our carbon footprints."