TALKING animals are leading the fight against litter at a Blackburn park.

For speaking bins -- designed to look like penguins and ducks -- will be setting up home in Queens Park to encourage children not to drop rubbish.

The two five-foot high themed litter bins, thought to be the first of their kind in East Lancashire, have five different messages saying sentences such as "Thank you, that is the best meal I have had all day".

The larger-than-life creatures, costing more than £300 each, are operated by a light sensor which triggers the voice box when the light is blocked.

Wayne Cooper, of Amberol, manufacturers of the bins, said: "It is all about getting the message out to children in a novel way at the right age, early enough for them to get used to always using a bin.

"It is also good because the messages are varied it makes the children feel they are really talking."

The children's playground at the park will home the animal bins -- known as 'Amberol Animals' -- from Saturday, when a children's party is also taking place.

Queens Park Supporters Group has put the bins in place following a grant from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

The group's project officer, Val Yates, said: "I just kept my fingers crossed and then one day got a letter to say we had the money."

Mrs Yates, 68, said: "Parks always have a problem with litter it is one of those things in life and hopefully this will encourage the children to do what's right."

Derbyshire-based Amberol has a wide selection of theme bins with parrots, chicks, robins, bears and a pig which will be available from October.

Mr Cooper added: "There is a 30 second delay on them as well so they can't be made to speak unnecessarily

The messages should last up to four months before needing battery renewal.

An unveiling ceremony will be held between 2pm and 3.30pm.