Every secondary school pupil in East Ayrshire will have to take part in a litter pick or face an £80 fine if they drop rubbish.

All schools from Kilmarnock to Cumnock will roll out the litter-busting scheme, which will see children receiving talks on the issue.

Primary school children will undergo anti-litter awareness sessions under the plans. However, secondary pupils who discard rubbish face consequences by taking part in a litter lift or a paying a fine.

The scheme has already been operating at Loudoun Academy and in the Irvine Valley primaries as a pilot for a number of months.

Councillors voted to push it out to the whole area at a cabinet meeting yesterday (Wednesday, January 22).

East Ayrshire Council depute leader Elena Whitham (SNP) said: “I have seen the difference in the amount of litter that used to be around Loudoun Academy.

Councillor John McGhee (Labour) said: “It is a great initiative. It can only help.”

Living next to a secondary school, Kilmarnock Conservative politician Tom Cook said he sees the impact of litter in his area and added: “I welcome the roll-out.”

Rubbish party councillor Sally Cogley came up with the idea. The Irvine Valley representative has already delivered presentations at six primaries alongside independent councillor Ellen Freel.

Councillor Cogley said: “We need to look at who is doing the littering. We need to look at greater education and enforcement. Hopefully these children will educate their parents.

“It is just the beginning. To make a change we need to do this through education and enforcement.”

Presentations are due to start in February to schools around the area while parent councils are also to be briefed on the plans.

Councillor Cogley said she is “absolutely delighted” the council is taking the littering initiative forward throughout the local authority.

Children gave their feedback after hearing presentations about the damage caused by litter to the environment.

One child said: “If I was to drop litter I know that I have done something bad.”

Another P6 pupil added: “We should maybe get different types of bins for the playground.”