LITTER pickers have had a boost after funding from Highworth Lions Club bought them new equipment ahead of their second outing in the town.

Highworth Community Clean Up recovered more than a dozen black bags of rubbish at its inaugural litter pick last month, and the next date is set for June 7.

After funding of more than £140, they have bought in new pickers and are appealing for volunteers to come and help out.

Stephen Bailey, the organiser of the event, said: “We have opened up a bank account for the community group so that people can help out with funds if they are minded to, so anyone can pop in to the Coventry Building Society in Highworth and deposit some money into the account.

“This is about looking to the future, but we have already secured some funding from the Highworth and District Lions. We have got a load of new litter pickers, which will really help us out, and we can have 15 helping hands.

“The price was originally £9.50, but as we were a community group, they knocked a few quid off the price for us, and the Lions put up the money with a cheque.

“We have got the next date set, and we need quite a lot this time around. We had around 17 people last time, but we are hoping to get even more, and hopefully this Co-Op will be lendingsome of its staff to help out."

“I have been really surprised by the response so far, and it all started because I just got so fed up with all the rubbish around Highworth. I was sitting in the car park with rubbish blowing around and just thought it isn’t on.”