It is hoped a child’s drawing of a hungry bin will encourage people of all ages to dispose of their rubbish correctly.

Nine-year-old Kristan-Lee Kruger, of Milstead and Frinsted Primary School, was the overall winner in the annual design contest organised by environmental art charity Litter Angels.

Her winning poster – which features a blue bin character demanding to be fed with the slogan ‘Don’t be a fool, pick up, it’s cool’ – will be displayed in car parks of the McDonald’s restaurants in Sittingbourne, Bobbing and Sheerness.

Litter Angels worked with 17 schools across Swale on this year’s anti-litter campaign.

Kristan-Lee received a cheque for £50 and £100 for her school at an awards ceremony at UKP Leisure Club, Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, on Thursday.

Swale mayor Cllr Sue Gent presented a certificate and a mug, individually made for each child by Little Potters, to the winner from each school.

MP Gordon Henderson set up the charity in 2008 to create, through education, awareness about the anti-social nature of litter and its effect on our environment.

He said: “Reducing the amount of litter in our streets and parks is the quickest way in which we can make a real impact on our local environment.

“I started Litter Angels because I felt that encouraging primary school pupils to get into the habit of not dropping litter would lay the foundations for a cleaner tidier Britain when they grow up.

“This year’s Litter Angels competition was a great success, with more schools than ever taking part. I would like to thank all those involved with the competition, particularly McDonald’s for their continued support.”

A special award was also presented by Mr Henderson to Owen Clinch, who recently cleared the play area at the Milton Creek Country Park of litter. Altogether he collected seven bags full.