A TEAM of volunteers have become the latest group to take pride in their community with a litter pick.

A TEAM of volunteers have become the latest group to take pride in their community with a litter pick.

People from Wretham joined the Breckland-wide Blitz clean up and collected 47 sacks of litter, a motorcycle seat, a chemical sprayer and empty DVD cases from a 10 mile stretch of the A1075.

East Wretham parish clerk Julian Gibson, who helped to organise the event said: “If only we had a few more volunteers. We would really love to be able to extend the range down to the A11.

“I know this is outside our parish, but we regard the A1075 as our street. Perhaps next year we'll top the 20 volunteer mark and get more covered.”

The Breckland Blitz was launched on March 1 when Breckland council staff gave up their lunch hour to tackle everything from chewing gum on pavements to clearing litter from grass verges.

More litter picks have been organised over the next five weeks, together with pond clean ups, graffiti removals and the additions of new litter bins.

Environmental Services staff and Spike the Hedgehog will also be giving litter talks to pupils at primary schools in the district, urging them to bin their rubbish rather than dumping it on the streets.

Executive member for communities, Theresa Hewett, who is spearheading the initiative, said: “Pride in Breckland is all about making our communities safer, cleaner places to live.

“We want to create an environment where it's socially unacceptable to drop litter, spray graffiti on walls or vandalise public facilities.

“However, if the Breckland Blitz is going to work, we need the support of everyone who lives and works in the district.”

To get involved in the Breckland Blitz please contact Richard Wills, Pride in Breckland co-ordinator on 01362 656870.