A HOUSING association have thanked Radcliffe residents for helping to “do their bit” as they took part in a nationwide clean-up operation last weekend.

Irwell Valley Housing Association actively showed support for the Great British Spring Clean, a campaign aimed to get half a million people cleaning up their communities, which ran from March 3-5.

The charitable, not-for-profit association which provides housing and management services to over 16,000 people across Greater Manchester, ran clean ups all around the region over the course of the three days.

On Friday they were in Radcliffe around the area at the junction of Lord Street and Coomassie Street, clearing up the litter that blights the streets, parks and other public spaces in the area.

Abid Riaz, Irwell Valley regional manager, said: “We are enormously grateful to residents who turned out in the cold and wet weather for this clean-up operation.

“Irwell Valley wants to make it very clear that we are working with the authorities to pursue and penalise the irresponsible people who are blighting our neighbourhoods and creating terrible hazards for our children, our communities, for everyone.”

With litter such a huge problem across the country, councils in England are having to spend over £700 million on street cleaning services every year.

It is hoped the Great British Spring Clean will become an annual occurrence in the future.

Andrea Spamer, head of tenancy services at Irwell Valley, said: “We are delighted to have supported the event and we hope it will continue in the future.”