AN ANTI-LITTER campaigner has been revisiting her old school this week to encourage students to take pride in their community.

Manuela Wahnon returned to The Wellington Academy after 55 years to present three assemblies, inspiring pupils to use good manners and pick up rubbish.

The Wellington Academy and Manuela have been working together following a recent complaint by a local resident about the amount of litter around the school.

Guests at the first assembly on Tuesday morning included Garrison Commander Colonel James Denny, Wiltshire Councillor Charles Howard, Leader of Test Valley Borough Council Councillor Ian Carr and main sponsor for the Pride of Andover Awards Christine Mellor.

Vice principal, Ben Bond, said: “What is crucial to the work we have been doing with Manuela is that we want to inspire the students to have pride in their community and pride in themselves so they can leave with a sense that they have made the right choices.”

Manuela said: “I am absolutely honoured to be invited by the vice principal to do a series of presentations.

“I feel the children were responsive and as interactive as all the children that I have spoken to over the years.”

Representing the Tidworth and Bulford garrison, Colonel Denny added: “It has been an inspiring talk.

“Both nationally and in the community dropping litter costs money that could go to much better causes.”

Cllr Carr said: “It is good to step outside the borough and see how other people do things.”

Throughout the week other guests to Manuela’s presentations have included newsagent Hitesh Amin, Police Sergeant Andrea Faircloth and chairman of Ludgershall Town Council councillor Owen White.

Nick Bancroft, chair of governors at Bishops Cannings Primary School, Wiltshire Highways’ Adrian Hampton and Wiltshire councillor Philip Whitehead also attended this week.