A WOOTTON Bassett man fed up with moaning at the council about litter has decided to do something about it. Equipped with a council litter-picker and fluorescent coat, David Whiting, 60, has begun his own freelance litter round.

He hits the streets once a week to pick up rubbish but knows his one-man crusade is not going to solve the problem.

Mr Whiting, who was formerly a load master at RAF Lyneham, said he wants police and the council to do more to tackle litter-louts.

He said: "My solution is that we should make an example of those who litter and police should fine them. Then we should get maximum publicity and deter others from doing the same thing.

"The laws are there, but the police seem to be very reluctant to do anything about them.

"I'm not criticising the council. I think they are doing everything they can."

Mr Whiting, who lives in Briars Close, said: "I have been picking up litter for 20 years keeping my own estate clean.

"Sometimes, if I see another area which is particularly bad I will go and do it. There are a few other people who do the same as me.

"Perhaps the council should have wardens empowered to report people to the police whom they see littering."

Mr Whiting's neighbours were quick to praise his efforts.

Gillian Harris, a 65-year-old housewife, said: "It's a wonderful idea. I've seen Mr Whiting picking up litter and my husband and I think he's doing a great job."

Childminder Linda Burns, 39, said she hadn't noticed much litter but agreed that Mr Whiting should be commended.

Engineer Steve Bell, 46, said he thought litter was a universal problem. "Rubbish is everywhere and the problem will only get worse," he said. "Mr Whiting is doing a good job."

A year ago Wootton Bassett Town Council decided to fund extra litter rounds to supplement those carried out by North Wiltshire District Council.

The £15,000-a-year budget pays for weekly rubbish rounds in four different parts of town.

Town clerk Jonathan Bourne said: "North Wiltshire District Council street cleaning is concentrated on the High Street, which is cleaned every morning.

"But they haven't got time to do the rest people say there has been a big improvement since we started our round."

He added: "Mr Whiting was one of the biggest critics of the district council, and to a lesser extent ourselves, over litter.

"But at the same time he was willing to help, so fair play to him."

Inspector Craig Hill from Wootton Bassett Police, said: "We will deal with any offence no matter how minor if the circumstances are appropriate."

He said that police are empowered to issue fixed-penalty tickets for littering but said he did not have figures for how many times they have done so in Wootton Bassett. The maximum fine for littering is £2,500.