A community hub’s volunteers have been making an estate fit for a queen after making the most of a £200 clean-up initiative fund.

Thetford & Brandon Times: Mark Snowdon and Barbara Bysouth take part in the Charles Burrell Centre's Clean for the Queen day.Mark Snowdon and Barbara Bysouth take part in the Charles Burrell Centre's Clean for the Queen day. (Image: Archant)

Litter pickers from the Charles Burrell Centre (CBC) had their eyes out for dropped rubbish as they took part in the Clean for the Queen campaign, being organised by Breckland Council.

The scheme saw groups apply for up to £200 in funding from the district council in order to carry out tidy up projects and hold celebration events for Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday in April.

The centre was one of 21 across Breckland to be allocated the funding.

Mark Snowdon, centre manager, said 23 volunteers had turned out to chip in and clear litter from the CBC grounds, Staniforth Road, Bracken Road and Pine Close. In total, 16 bags of litter were collected.

He said: “In light of recent articles relating to littering and fly-tipping we felt it was important to support the community and give something back to the local residents that support the development of the centre

“We had an excellent response to this campaign and will look to make this a frequent event.”

Everyone that took part in the litter pick will be invited back for a party for the Queen’s birthday.

Ten other groups in the Thetford, Watton and Swaffham areas will be taking part in the litter pick.

They include:

• Norwich Road Estate Residents’ Association - February 28

• Prince’s Trust - Thetford division - February 29 to March 9

• Boudica’s Army of Litter Pickers - March 5

• Garboldisham Primary School - March 9 to 11

• Thetford Community Association - March 13

• Watton Evening WI - March 16

• Sex, Rock and Roll and Weeding - March 19

• Griston Parish Council - March 19

• Watton Town Council - March 20

• The Pickenhams WI - TBC

Trevor Carter, Breckland’s Executive Member for Place, said: “The tidy up projects will help to make the district a little neater and tidier, with the Queen’s milestone birthday giving us all a good excuse to get together for a celebration.”