A nine-year-old schoolgirl from Littleport Community Primary School has won a design competition to create a recycling champion for the region.

Ely Standard: Brooke Smith's superhero design, Michael, which will be used to head East Cambridgeshire District Council's new recycling campaign. PHOTO: Brooke SmithBrooke Smith's superhero design, Michael, which will be used to head East Cambridgeshire District Council's new recycling campaign. PHOTO: Brooke Smith (Image: Archant)

Year four pupil Brooke Smith put pen to paper to come up with a superhero called Michael, who will now form the central character in a recycling campaign for East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Councillor Julia Huffer, council waste champion, announced the winner at a special assembly held at Brooke’s school.

She said: “We received hundreds of entries to our competition but Brooke’s stood out to the judging panel with its bright colours and sheer personality.

“We are very excited to be introducing Michael to the world.”

Brooke’s design will now be brought to life by an illustrator and costume designer.

Michael will then be used as part of a workshop created by a group of professional actors to be delivered to schools in the region after Easter.

He will also appear on the side of recycling lorries and be used across marketing materials.

Headteacher at Littleport Community Primary School John Cattermole said: “We are thrilled for Brooke who has a natural artistic flair. To see one of our pupils rewarded for hard work and talent is wonderful and it was very special to see her face when her name was called out.”

Brooke was handed a framed copy of her work and £50 and a further £200 was given to the school and Brooke will be invited to help decide on how the money is spent.

The presentation also marked the launch of the ‘Be Like Michael, Recycle campaign’, which aims to push East Cambridgeshire towards its target of a 60 per cent recycling rate.

The council is currently carrying out a survey to find out how residents use recycling services and how good they think they are.

Surveys can be completed oat www.eastcambs.gov.uk or printed copies are available from the council offices.