PUPILS at an Accrington high school are staying late after class -- but it's not for detention.

The group of youngsters at Moorhead High have volunteered to stay for an hour-and-a-half each Thursday to clear litter from around the school. The work was organised after complaints from locals around the Cromwell Avenue school.

Police community beat manager Lisa Evans organised the clean-up with the school, and now up to 20 youngsters can be seen picking up litter on the nearby streets.

PC Evans said: "Kids are volunteering their own time after school to help out the community. It has been noticed that there is quite a lot of rubbish around the area on the paths the children use to get to, and from, school."

Headteacher Andrew Bateman said: "We get involved with community activities quite frequently, but to see them wanting to take responsibility themselves is very good."