Whether it is the country park, the river, Remembrance Playing Fields or the local shops, children in Brandon have been celebrating why they Love Where they Live.

Forest Academy and Glade Primary School students have been drawing their favourite things about Brandon for a campaign to encourage people to take pride in their area.

Now eight designs are to be turned into road signs to be put up around the town.

The competition was a joint initiative between Forest Heath District Council families and communities officer Louise Fenwick, Brandon Safer Neighbourhood Team PCSO Anne-Marie Powell, Forest Academy and Glade Primary School.

Cllr Robin Millar, Forest Heath District Council Cabinet Member for Families and Communities said: 'These designs show some of the great things that Brandon has to offer as seen through a child's eyes.

'These Happy Signs will go up to encourage people to Love Where they Live, to build that sense of pride in their community and empower them to take positive action to look after it.'

The signs were paid for from the locality budget of Reg Silvester, Suffolk county councillor.

April Grimes, headteacher of Forest Academy, said: 'Our pupils really took to this challenge and it is wonderful that these designs are to go up as a way of recognising and appreciating the brilliance of Brandon. Hopefully it will encourage others to Love Where they Live.'

The eight winners have all received prizes kindly donated by Brandon Country Park manager David Faulk, while eight runners up have received a £5 gift voucher donated by Brandon Tesco, whom also donated sweets to all the pupils who took part.

In the longer term, it is hoped that the designs can all be incorporated into a montage that will go on public display as a future legacy for Brandon.