INSPIRED pupils at Kilcreggan Primary School have been doing their bit for the environment by embarking on a mission to reduce the impact of plastic waste.

Primary 6 and 7 children are determined to become effective activists in the battle against litter and have taken it upon themselves to encourage a change of approach in the local area.

As part of a class topic exploring sustainability, the youngsters identified Argyll and Bute as one of the worst hit areas in Scotland for beach litter and plastic waste.

Upset by their findings on the foreshores, the children are now tackling the problem head on by interviewing local and national politicians and raising awareness of a new beach bins campaign.

READ MORE: Garelochhead shore litter problem 'an affront to humanity'.

Principal teacher Paul Malcolm explained: “They interviewed locals, our partner school in Japan and politicians to explore the problem in more depth.

“Via email they interviewed: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon; environment minister for Scotland Roseanna Cunningham; local councillor George Freeman; and face to face they also interviewed local MSP Jackie Baillie.

“What they found was that there was not enough money to provide more assistance from the council at present but that locals were very prepared to get involved.”

READ MORE: Helensburgh urged to back 'clean up Scotland' campaign.

To raise awareness and money for their cause, the children created and sold up-cycled products from recycled plastic bags such as wallets and ear rings and created a documentary about all their activism and research, which is currently submitted in Keep Scotland Beautiful’s Young Reporters Competition to be judged in April.

The film will be the focal point for the first night of the Sea Change Arts Festival in June this year, where plastic up-cycled goods will also be on sale during the evening event.

The pupils will also be taking part in organised beach cleans, the first of which will be held on Saturday, March 23 at 10am, meeting at Kilcreggan Pier.

READ MORE: Rhu beach clean sparks plastic waste concerns.

Paul added: “They’re starting a crowd fund to raise money for their beach bins project as well.

“The main idea coming out of all their work and research is to create recycled plastic beach bins that locals can put rubbish in, then we hope to propose to the council to meet us half way and collect the rubbish from the bins on a regular basis.

“This idea was endorsed by MSP Jackie Baillie who stated that if the locals are prepared to provide the bins and collect the rubbish then the council had a responsibility to reciprocate by collecting the rubbish from them.”