The start of the new primary school year next week cannot come quickly enough for some children.
Phoenix Leef (8) spent Thursday morning lugging a big broom and a blue bin around Morrison St, Caversham, cleaning up rubbish.
''I'm sick of all the rubbish in my street. The wind blows it around and people litter,'' Phoenix said, with a disapproving tone.
''Hopefully, people will keep it tidy now that it's clean.''
There was no particular inspiration for the work, he said.
''I had nothing else to do, so I just came up with the idea in my mind.''
His mother, Barbara Leef, said she suspected Phoenix had been getting bored with the holidays and was looking forward to getting back to school and his classmates.
The St Francis Xavier School pupil returns to class on Monday.
''I'm going to be in year 4,'' he said proudly.
