Two school pupils have proved they are anything but rubbish at drawing, after their artwork was picked to be displayed on the side of food waste trucks.

Eastern Daily Press: Lyla Donovan with her winning drawing. Pic: Norwich City CouncilLyla Donovan with her winning drawing. Pic: Norwich City Council (Image: Norwich City Council)

Lyla Donovan, 9, and Loris Yallop, 8, who both go to Mile Cross Primary School in Norwich, won a competition or designs to go on the side vehicles which will collect food waste from city homes.

The creative pair came up with colourful designs to get across the message that people should not let food go to waste, but instead put it in their food caddy bins.

The artistic duo, who are in year four at the Brasier Road school, were thrilled to see their designs gracing the sides of the food waste trucks.

Loris said 'I was completely speechless when I found out that I'd won the competition. Recycling is important because it means you can use something again and again.'

Eastern Daily Press: Lyla Donovan (left) and Loris Yallop (right) with their certificates. Pic: Norwich City CouncilLyla Donovan (left) and Loris Yallop (right) with their certificates. Pic: Norwich City Council (Image: Norwich City Council)

And Lyla said: 'We recycle our food waste at home so I wanted to encourage other to use their food caddy too. I was so surprised to learn I had won - it felt great.'

Paul Kendrick, Norwich City Council's cabinet member with responsibility for recycling, judged the competition.

He said: 'Many of the drawings showed real insight into the issues of food waste and so much creativity had gone into illustrating the ideas. It was hard to choose a winner, so in the end we chose two!

'I hope seeing the posters on the food waste trucks will remind residents of the importance of minimising food waste, and of using their kitchen caddy for unavoidable leftovers.'

As part of its drive to increase recycling, Norwich City Council started up a free weekly food waste collection service in 2010 which is now available to most residents, as well as city schools.

Council officers hope that people seeing the children's posters on the food recycling trucks will help encourage more to use the free food recycling service, or to compost their leftovers.