CHIPPENHAM’S Matthew Hendricks-Birtles is hopeful that a litter campaign launched by the town council will help reduce the amount of rubbish after experiencing the problem first-hand.

The 72-year-old has spent the last six years looking after a grass verge opposite his house on Barley Leaze, but has to go out daily to retrieve bottles, plastic wrappers and dog poop bags left along the path next to it.

“Over the last six years I have dug up all the rubble and boulders and planted a new grass garden with flowers,” said Mr Hendricks-Birtles, who has lived in Chippenham for nine years.

“I’m doing it for nothing and it’s where I met the mayor because he was picking up litter as well and we got talking.

“It’s disgusting, me and another person go out and pick rubbish up and there’s poop bags in the trees and nappies and people coming through from Bristol Road walk down there and throw stuff away.

“I always carry a bag and glove with me.”

Chippenham Town Council have launched the #chipplitterpick campaign, which will take place on May 2 and will ask everyone in the town to pick up at least one piece of rubbish.

The campaign comes after an area known as the black swamp in Monkton Park was named as one of the UK’s top ‘grot spots’ during February.

Black bin bags will be provided by the council the week before from the Town Hall, John Coles Park and Stanley Park sports ground.

“I think any campaign to tackle litter is a good thing,” added Mr Hendricks-Birtles.

“We need more awareness about it and I’m not used to living like this.

“Other countries have a day of cleaning, in Australia they have a clean-up day and in Norway if you see a bit of litter you pick it up and take it home.

“They are proud of their country but we are not.”

Send in your pictures of the worst litter spots in Chippenham to smackley@newswilts.co.uk.