A NEW book that encourages children to recycle has been produced by a team in Southend.

The Turning Tides team from Southend Association of Voluntary Services has joined Southend Council and Olympus KeyMed to create the next edition of the popular Mo book series.

The book is designed to encourage people to take up recycling and minimise food waste.

The storyline sees Mo encouraging his friend Molly and her mother to change the way they dispose of their waste.

Anthony Quinn, Turning Tides manager and author of the book, said: “This is a great example of a strong partnership achieving common goals together.

“We have had a great response to previous books and felt the recycling message was important to get across to our target community.

“We hope the children will enjoy the book and it will provoke discussion and a positive change in their attitudes towards recycling and the environment.”

Local primary schools were invited to enter a competition for children in Years 4 and 5 to come up with a winning name for the blue food waste bin that features in the new book.

Eleanor Slayford and Chloe Odina, both aged nine, from Bournes Green Junior School, were joint winners with the name Buddy the Blue Food Waste Bin.

Participating schools will receive free copies of the book.

More than 1,000 have been distributed to local schools already.

The book is illustrated by the local artist John Bulley.

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for waste, said: “This is a fantastic project.

“The council is committed to doing all it can to boost recycling rates throughout the borough and educating children, and consequently their parents, is just one way we can help to do that.”

Tricia Holmes, from Olympus KeyMed, supports the initiative.

She said: “We believe environmental education and awareness activities are paramount to building a sustainable society, which is why we are proud to support the Turning Tides Mo Book project.”