Bags of enthusiasm will be matched by bags of rubbish as children start a novel scheme.

Pupils will be picking up litter on their walk to school in a joint project between Litter Angels and the KM’s Walk on Wednesday.

Primary schools will compete against each other to collect the most rubbish – with the top school winning a cash prize and crowned title holders by MP Gordon Henderson at a special ceremony at the end of the year.

Seven primary schools have so far signed up to take part, including five around Sittingbourne – Bapchild and Tonge, Grove Park, Iwade School, St Peter’s and Kemsley.

Two Island schools are also taking part – Rose Street and St Edward’s Catholic, both in Sheerness.

Each has been given 100% biodegradable bags to collect rubbish on one Wednesday a month.

Walk on Wednesday gets pupils exchanging four wheels for two legs to encourage activity, enhance road safety skills, increase alertness and reduce reliance on cars.

Carrier bags will be collected at the school gates, counted and then disposed of, contributing to a Litter League table which will appear in our paper and updated every month.

Colleen Owen, head teacher at St Peter’s primary, said: “When our Year 5 Walk on Wednesday and road safety skills monitors heard about the competition there was no holding them back and they eagerly summoned up support from the rest of the school.

“We wish the competition great success but secretly we hope we will collect the most rubbish!”

Gordon Henderson, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey and chairman of Litter Angels, said: “Litter Angels encourages primary school children to pick up their litter so it seemed a good idea to build on that by linking with the KM Walk on Wednesday Scheme to encourage them to look after their local school environment and collecting litter while walking to school.

“I hope the children will find collecting litter can be fun and rewarding and I hope they enjoy taking part.”