Leighton volunteers spring into cleaning

A group of hardy locals joined forces to take part in the Great British Spring Clean Weekend '“ a national campaign to help clear the vast swathes of litter that blight our countryside.
Leighton Linslade volunteers who took part in the Great British Spring Clean weekend with some of the 92 bags of rubbish collectedLeighton Linslade volunteers who took part in the Great British Spring Clean weekend with some of the 92 bags of rubbish collected
Leighton Linslade volunteers who took part in the Great British Spring Clean weekend with some of the 92 bags of rubbish collected

Volunteers from Leighton and Linslade pooled resources to help councils with the mammoth task.

Bags were provided by Central Bedfordshire Council and the town council and volunteers were loaned equipment for the weekend.

During the three days allocated to litter collection, they faced rain, wind, showers and sunshine – none of which dampened their enthusiasm to remove all the unsightly and unhygenic rubbish.

Friends of Leighton-Linslade in Bloom, Friends of Tiddenfoot Waterside Park and the Canoe Club took on litter picks at Tiddenfoot Waterside Park and the Grand Union Canal and towpath.

Some parts of town were also litter picked on Sunday morning when the weather was lovely and sunny after initial rain.

Not only were the usual cans, bottles and fast food containers found and bagged, but also a whole series of discarded objects including several car tyres and wheels, old rugs, clothing, broken fishing tackle, fire extinguishers and empty cash boxes.

Volunteers spent more than 100 hours collecting a total of 92 bags of rubbish, plus larger items from three separate events in town.

A council spokesman said: “We’d like to thank all those hardy and willing volunteers who assisted.

“There’s still much more to be done and businesses are requested to identify and report any fly-tipped material on their ground and to collect and dispose of any rubbish.”

He added: “Your efforts will make the town and its surroundings a much more pleasant place in which to live and work.”

> If you’d like to become involved in this vital volunteering, contact the council on 01525 631920.