LITTER pickers collected 16 bags of rubbish in the latest sweep of a West Swindon neighbourhood.

Almost 20 volunteers in high-visibility tabards hit the paths, roads and streams of Westlea in their anti-rubbish bid.

The group, which meets at Westlea Church once a month, has been running for around two years.

But they always welcome new members, says parish councillor Suresh Gattapur.

He said: “I moved to Swindon about 15 years back. I made Westlea my home. It was not like this before. In the last couple of years I could see my own area getting clogged with unwanted litter: food packets and plastic bottles. Some people don’t care about the environment.”

The growing amount of litter inspired him to get involved in the group, Coun Gattapur said. “This litter pick is something we need to bring in more of across Swindon.”

He now gets involved in impromptu litter picks of his own around Swindon, he added.

The group meets at Westlea Primary School at 9am on the first Saturday of every month.

For more about the group, visit: www.keepbritaintidy.org/westlea-church-litter-picking.