Litter-picking group fills hundreds of bin bags

The team of litter pickers with some of the many bags of rubbish

More than 200 bags of litter have been collected from an area of Devon as part of a community-led litter-picking initiative.

El Clarke, founder of the Clean Our Patch Community Interest Company, said 26 volunteers took part in the litter pick in Plymstock on 1 February.

Ms Clarke said the group filled 238 bags of rubbish after picking up items such as bottles, cans and crisp packets.

"I just want us to make a difference in the community and, collectively, that's exactly what we did," she said.

More than 200 bags of rubbish were collected

Ms Clarke said the community interest group, which had been running for about seven years, brought communities together to "empower" them to tidy up local areas.

She said a number of items were collected during the litter pick in Plymstock, including a £20 note.

"I think we found it at the bottom of a pile of bottles and cans and stuff," she said.

Ms Clarke said it was a good time of year to carry out litter-picking.

Council provides bin bags

"It's a good time to get into places that you're not able to do for the rest of the year," she said.

"The council are amazing, at this time of year they come out and start cutting things back which gives us more access."

Ms Clarke said the group was "quite happy" to carry out the litter-picking as the local council did not necessarily have the time or man power.

Complicated issue

"They do support us by giving us the bin bags and they come and collect everything that we pick up," she said.

She said recyclable waste made up about 80% of rubbish collected, adding people "should be picking up after themselves".