A schoolgirl has sprung a sweet surprise on trash collection workers.

Little True Bourne, aged 6, penned a thank-you letter to the island’s unsung heroes who keep the country clean.

She wrote: “Dear sanitation workers, I want to thank you for keeping the island clean and beautiful.

“I appreciate the dangerous work you do everyday. You are so important without you the island would be called Trash Island.”

True, from St George’s and a primary 2 pupil at Warwick Academy, waited for trash collectors to stop at her home last Thursday so she could hand over the note.

Her letter was one of many written by primary 2 pupils at the school to thank waste management staff for their hard work.

The writing assignment was part of one of the children’s at-home school lessons.

Pupils were encouraged to think about the problems trash collectors faced, such as traffic and weather conditions, and handed their personalised cards when staff came to collect their trash.

Lieutenant-Colonel David Burch, the Minister of Public Works, thanked the school for the “very kind gesture” and offered pupils a chance to tour the island’s waste management centres.

He said: “I thank the students and faculty at Warwick Academy for their gesture, which undoubtedly lifted the spirits of the waste collection team.

"We look forward to giving the students a tour of our facilities once health regulations permit."

Colonel Burch added: “Waste collection is often a thankless job – few consider the challenge, hard work and sacrifice made by the team at waste management.

“Case in point – throughout the Covid-19 pandemic waste collection has continued unabated.

“This work ethic and dedication to a job many would never consider a career is a testament to the men and women that make up the waste management team.”