MORE than 250 residents across the Craven area got involved in their annual big spring clean.

A survey was conducted by Plastic Free Skipton which found that sweet wrappers and food packets from Cadbury, Walkers, Burger King, Lucozade and Mars was most commonly found among the rubbish.

More than 180 bags of litter were collected by residents over the month of April.

Residents from Giggleswick, Ingleton and Clapham were among those who took part in the Big Clean Campaign.

They joined Plastic Free Skipton, Craven District Council, Friends of Aireville Park and other community groups in towns and villages across Craven.

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

Amy Brown, co-leader of Plastic Free Skipton, said: “We carried out an audit of the brands of rubbish found at The Spring Clean.

“There needs to be a change in behaviour by the people who drop their litter.

“However, it is essential that the companies who produce it are also held responsible for the quantity of rubbish that their products create.”

Craven District Council provided bags and litter-picking grabbers for the residents and at the end would help to collect the rubbish- which was then put up on display at a stall on Skipton High Street.

Paul Ellis, Director of Services at Craven District Council, said: “Well done to all the groups who turned out to help tidy up the district.

“We were shocked at how much litter was collected in our towns and villages.

“ Our staff work hard all year round to help keep Craven clean - we are currently carrying out litter-picking on the verges on the main roads around the district.

“ However, we have to cover a large area so any help from community groups is very welcome.”

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

This might be a park that is starting to look a little messy or it might just be checking pavements and picking up items that have been carelessy discarded. Craven District Council will provide rubbish bags, litter-picking grabbers and collection of any litter to community groups at any time of the year – groups can email wastemanagement@cravendc.gov.uk

To get involved and organise your own litter pick email celia.powell@newsquest.co.uk or you can call on 01539 790238