RESIDENTS were armed and ready with litter grabbers and bin bags to help keep the South Lakes and the Dales free of rubbish as part of The Big Clean campaign.

Ingleton in Bloom hosted a litter pick event where 18 residents descended on the village wearing hi-vis vests and ready to tackle the litter left behind in verges and green spaces.

In an afternoon the volunteers managed to gather 45 bin bags worth of waste as well as a collection of various dumped items that were gathered for disposal.

A member from Ingleton in Bloom group said it would be hosting another clean up event later in the year.

The Westmorland Gazette’s Big Clean campaign, run in collaboration with The Mail, aims to encourage local communities to take pride in the areas where they live.

Dallam School boarders also took on the challenge and helped Milnthorpe residents rid the village of clutter. As well as collecting 14 bags of rubbish, the students collected various car parts and bumpers.

The Big Clean appeal is sponsored by Kimberly Clark and Spirit Energy, and it calls on schools, community groups, resident associations, businesses and individuals to do what they can to clear up any litter-strewn patches of land in the south Cumbria, Eden and north Lancashire areas.

This could be helping to clean a park that is starting to look a little messy or it might just be picking up items that have been carelessly discarded.

lTrash Free Trails tour is coming to Grizedale forest on April 21 in a bid to reduce litter on the trails and wild places. Grizedale Mountain Bikes is calling for riders, runners and ramblers to take part in the event. Organiser Dom Ferris said: “Our trails are under pressure like never before, and as mountain bikers it is out duty to protect and conserve them.”

To get involved and organise your own litter pick email celia.powell@newsquest.co.uk