HALF a million volunteers have joined Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean this month with Great Bedwyn and Marlborough part of the campaign.

Bedwyn Footpaths Group held road side litter picks in March in support of the national campaign to rid the land of litter.

Judy Haynes of the group said: "As a local footpaths group we always collect litter from footpaths on our regular walks but we noticed that the local minor country lanes were strewn with rubbish, more visible in winter when the grass dies down.

"Encouraged and supported by Richard Charles, the custodian of local woods, Bedwyn and Wilton Brails, a team of 10 members completed their first spring pick on a blustery Saturday, on March 16.

"Wiltshire Highways supported us too with the loan of equipment. We collected an amazing trailer load of about 25 dustbin bags of rubbish along the verges of 4.5 miles of minor roads. This rubbish is mainly cans and bottles, and waste from takeaway outlets, most probably thrown from vehicles."

Taking part were Martin Ditchburn, Tesher Fitzpatrick, Judy Haynes, Jennie Collins, Anna Ditchburn, Steve Smith, Margaret Taylor, Richard Charles, Kevin McGowan and Dave Haynes.

Marlborough Town Council held their litter pick last Friday (March 22) which they said was very successful.

The town clerk Shellery Parker said: "Local residents, representatives from Rick Stein, the newly formed Youth Council, the local Police, Marlborough in Bloom and the Town Council all turned up.

"The volunteers tackled the High Street, Priory Gardens, Cooper’s Meadow, George Lane Car Park and other problem areas, meeting up with volunteers from ARK who were doing a river clean up too. The next ones are on March 30 and April 7. "