BEFORE they were called back to their books and classrooms, a team of students rollled their sleeves up for a big clean at Marston brook.

Back in July 1974 the students at Harlow School, in Marston, got involved with a big clearing operation.

The 28 youngsters, aged 13 and 14, dredged out all the rubbish, tidied the banks and disposed of what they could find along a two-mile stretch of the brook.

Headmaster Mr B. Mulliner said it had been the first year the children had tackled work of this kind but he hoped they would continue doing so in the future.

He added: "I think it will stop them throwing rubbish into the brook if they know that they will have to clear it out."