A Pepsi can believed to be from 1984 has been found by school pupils during a litter picking session.
Pupils from Lewis School Pengam were tidying up near the Rhymney river on Thursday, November 28 when they found the 35-year-old relic.
The 12 Pupils were joined on the clean-up session by two teachers, members of Keep Wales Tidy’s Young Reporters for the Environment programme, and Tim Wort from Keep Wales Tidy’s eco-schools.
In total, pupils collected nine bags of litter as part of an increased focus on environmentalism at the school.
Pupils have also been working on ways to improve the way the school deals with plastic waste.
Teacher Paula Treweek, who runs the school’s eco group, said: “We also have a plastic waste strategy and are getting more people involved. The pupils are really enthusiastic.
“We want everyone to be more eco-friendly and we’re working on embedding it into the curriculum for years seven to 11, as well as for the sixth form.”
Ms Treweek added: “It’s a passion of mine – I grew up interested in all things eco.”
Ms Treweek also said the school has been pushing environmental issues more prominently this year and is hoping “to do more in the community” to raise awareness of these issues.
Headteacher Christopher Parry said the litter pick was an activity he was “proud to support”.
He said: “It’s remarkable what pupils found during the litter pick.
“Pupils have raised environmental issues over the years. The profile has been raised in school and we’ve been looking at recycling and plastic waste.”
Mr Parry also explained that the new curriculum in Wales places greater emphasis on the environment.
“The pupils are very interested, which is fantastic. The boys have embraced it really well.
“Environmental issues are brought up a lot at school council meetings.
“It’s important that young people feel part of the community.
“An element of what we do in school is driven by pupils. We’re trying to make climate change events a big part of our calendar.”