VOLUNTEER litter-pickers carried out a major clean-up recently.

Giggleswick Litter Picking Group, part of the Giggleswick Gardening Group, collected 11 sacks of litter, lorry tyres and a headboard for a bed among other things.

The group, which operates under our slogan 'Pride in our Parish', meets on the first Monday of each month, including Bank Holidays.

A spokesman said: "We have maps of some 13 routes within the parish, some of which are circular routes and others 'Walk out and litter pick back'.

"We usually operate in pairs, have a heath and safety code, high visibility jackets, hoops to keep the plastic sacks open and litter picking tools.

"We aim to be out for no more than two hours. Each pair signs out and back and records their times and the number of sacks filled and any interesting happenings during their 'pick'.

"Sacks are placed in a central place for Craven District Council operatives to collect on the same day.

"We have been operating over three years, have an average of 10 to 12 people each month and collect around 140 to 150 sacks of litter each year.

"The great thing is that the amount of litter is declining as people are becoming more aware of the need to free our roads, lanes, paths bridleways and footpaths of litter."

Prior to the first Monday in the month a reminder by email is circulated and is sent to each member in the form of a newsletter and a weekly newsletter goes out to the Gardening Group.