BANNERS displaying a hotline number for reporting loan sharks are being displayed outside six Sandwell primary schools as part of a crackdown on the crime.

The banner, designed by 11-year-old Kiefer Cottrell, is to be displayed outside his school, Springfield Primary, Rowley Regis, after being chosen from more than 400 competition entries.

It will also go up outside Brickhouse, Grace Mary, Old Hill, Rowley Hall, and Temple Meadow primary schools in Cradley Heath, Tividale and Rowley Regis.

The competition was organised by the England Illegal Money Lending Team which led assemblies for year five and six pupils at the schools to spread the word about the dangers of borrowing from illegal money lenders.

It was hoped they would share their knowledge with their families and turn away from loan sharks in later life.

Springfield headteacher Sue Powis said: “We are very proud to see Kiefer chosen as the winning entry. The competition heightened awareness of the dangers of loan sharks in ways children of this age could understand.”

Loan sharks can be reported on the confidential hotline 0300 555 2222, by texting ‘loan shark + your message’ to 60003, by email to reportaloanshark@stoploansharks.gov.uk or private message on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject