CHIPPENHAM residents young and old took to the streets and parks of the town to help pick up litter as part of the Great British Spring Clean event.

Groups and volunteers helped collect almost 100 bags of rubbish in the town during the event which was held on Saturday morning (March 4).

Chippenham Town Councillor Peter Hutton organised a litter pick from Derriads Pond to Cepen Park South where he was joined by local residents and employees of McDonald’s, who collected 30 bags of rubbish.

He said: “It was nice to see so many residents turn out, both young and old and there were new and familiar faces.

“It was not just about litter picking, it creates community support.”

Leader of Wiltshire Council, Baroness Jane Scott, also took part in the nationwide event by joining 3rd Chippenham Scouts who collected 29 bags of rubbish around the area surrounding their scout hut on Derriads Lane.

Litter picking group Off the Ground collected 35 bags of rubbish when they took to Donkey Field and the surrounding area.

“We had 25 volunteers on the day and quite a lot of our regular volunteers were away on holiday,” said Beverly Walker, from the litter picking group.

“We had some familiar faces but there were lots of new faces as well and we collected 35 bags of rubbish in two hours.

“I think that the Great British Spring Clean has probably raised a bit of awareness.”