More than 14,000 school children are to be given their own copy of a short story as part of a council drive to combat littering.

The book, The Clumps’ Big Mess, by children’s author Ross MacKenzie, is being given to every primary and additional support needs school pupil in Renfrewshire.

Bosses at the local authority hope it will help to educate the younger generation about the damage littering can do to the environment.

Mr MacKenzie has visited his old school, Kirklandneuk Primary in Renfrew, to read his story to the pupils.

Book front cover
(Renfrewshire Council/PA)

He said: “It was great fun to write this book and especially one with such an important message.

“Two of the characters are named after my own kids and when I write a book I try and look at it from a child’s point of view; how would they look at it if the world was full of litter?

“I hope the book achieves the message that we should look after the amazing surroundings we have and if it plays a small part in that then we’ve done our job.”

The book, illustrated by Neil Slorance, was commissioned by Renfrewshire Council as part of its Team Up to Clean Up campaign.

Mr Slorance said: “It’s such a great story with a really important message and I hope all the pupils around Renfrewshire enjoy it.”

Cathy McEwan, convener of Renfrewshire Council’s infrastructure, land and environment policy board, said: “While we want to make an immediate impact to the cleanliness of the area, we know that educating the next generation is just as important and we’re aiming to make binning their rubbish second nature for our young people.”