IRVINE and Kilwinning pupils are to get a playful reminder than many of them are elligible to vote in the upcoming Independence Referendum.

Spray-painted hopscotch games have been applied in all North Ayrshire secondary schools to remind 16 and 17 years olds not to leave their vote to chance. The traditional game has a special twist which encompasses the words 'Yes’ and 'No’, ending with 'Vote’ to demonstrate that young people have the ultimate say in which way they decide to cast their vote.

The design is aimed at catching the attention of first-time voters in the playground when they return to school after the summer holidays – and encourage them to take part in September’s Independence Referendum. Steven MacIntyre, a sessional worker with the council’s youth services team, designed and created the quirky stencils free-hand.

Steven enlisted the help of a 'graffiti team’, made up of modern apprentices from the council’s community development team and took to the playgrounds of secondary schools throughout North Ayrshire to spread the colourful messages.

North Ayrshire’s returning officer, Elma Murray, said: “It is incredibly important that the voting process is made as understandable and accessible as possible for young people as they prepare to cast their vote for the first time ever.

“This promotional (and fun) campaign is certainly a creative way to help engage 16 and 17 year olds in the voting process.” The messages can be seen at schools across North Ayrshire, including Greenwood Academy, Irvine Royal Academy, Kilwinning Academy and St Matthews Academy, and it is hoped to be rolled out across more locations before the vote.

The graffiti stencils will be removed by the council’s Streetscene team after the referendum in September, if the schools request it.