Mayor of Merton Councillor Agatha Akyigyina announced Pelham Primary school as the winner of its Mega Recycle community award, presenting the pupils with a cheque for £5,000.

The school has won the prize by gaining 286 nominations from local residents. As part of the Mega Recycle, the school has encouraged many people to recycle as much as possible.

Mayor of Merton, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina said: “Pelham Primary School is a wonderful place for children to come to learn and it was my pleasure to be there to congratulate the children on their successes. Our schools are very much a part of our communities and we all need to start thinking about greener ways to get around, being more active and lessening our impact on the environment by doing things like recycling. The pupils here are an inspiration to us all and I am sure they will continue these good habits well into the future.”

Mayor of Merton, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, Pelham Primary School Headtecher Maria Keenan and children at Pelham Primary School

Headteacher of Pelham Primary School Maria Keenan said: “I’m proud of the children at the school. It is because of them, and because of our dedicated staff, parents and governors, that we have won the award. As a school we believe we play an important role in the community and we also believe in working with our children to develop good habits early on in life so they grow into well-rounded, environmentally conscious adults.”

To be in with a chance of winning a cash prize, all residents and businesses need to do is sign up to the Merton Mega Recycle and take the pledge online. Everyone who signs up will be entered into the draw every month. Eleven households are randomly selected each month: one will win £250 and the other ten will win £100. Residents are now also able to donate their winnings to The Mayor’s Charitable Trust.