RAMSBOTTOM residents were on the look out for litter when they helped clean up a local park this week.

Members of the newly-formed Litter Pick Ramsbottom group took to Nuttall Park armed with litter pickers on Wednesday morning.

Six volunteers were joined by Ramsbottom councillor Robert Hodkinson and the Conservative candidate for Ramsbottom in this year's election, Jamie Hoyle.

Jackie Griffiths, who organised the event with her daughter Isabel, said the group managed to collect about 20 bags of rubbish from the park and the banks of the River Irwell.

She added: “We are hoping this will be the first of many. I have always hated litter and I retired last Christmas and I thought I needed a new cause. I was hoping for it to be my retirement project."

Isabel, who studied zoology at the University of Leeds, said: "The ideal outcome of our community litter picking group would be to have a reduction in the use of single use plastics and an increase the amount of recycling in the area.

"I am also hoping that we can educate and inspire others, and contribute to the worldwide protection of our seas."

The group will be hosting their next litter pick at Church Fields, next to St Andrew's Church from 10am-12pm on Saturday, April 7.

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