Pupils from Cooley Primary School and St Oliver Plunkett PS in Sixmilecross, Tyrone, cleared litter from local streets on Wednesday as part of Eco Week. The activity formed part of a shared education initiative to promote environmental awareness and teamwork.

Gail Cuthbertson, principal of Cooley Primary School, stated that litter affects roads across Northern Ireland, including rural areas. She noted drivers often discard rubbish from car windows.

A classroom assistant from St Oliver Plunkett PS, originally from Omagh, said children benefit from picking up litter to grasp the effort required for cleanup.

Cooley Primary School holds an Eco-Flag and employs eco-ambassadors year-round. Cuthbertson explained this teaches pupils to care for the environment from a young age.

The schools collaborated to foster friendships among pupils from varied backgrounds. A representative from St Oliver Plunkett PS said the event helps children see similarities despite different schools.

Participants collected items such as sweet wrappers and coffee cups from roadsides, pavements, and near parked cars in the village.