TWO schoolgirls have been praised for their initiative to rejuvenate a subway close to their school.

Elizabeth Dortel and Ella Louisa Gornall, both 11, from Powers Hall Junior school, asked the council to improve the subway in Spa Lane, Witham.

The girls said that they felt intimidated by graffiti.

"In Year 5 we went on a nature walk and we were disgusted by the subway so we decided to do something about it," Ella said.

Essex County Council and Braintree District Council helped the girls, who both live in Witham, to start improving the area as part of the council's Green Heart of Essex campaign.

In June, local urban art company Graffworkz led a workshop at the school where they helped the girls and their classmates design 10 giant paintings.

The opening was held last week, when MP Priti Patel said: "These two girls have put the heart back into the community."