Join the Great British Spring Clean to keep our communities tidy

• We can help volunteers with clean up events
• Getting involved can help people's mental health

If you want to help clean up litter in your community then join us in supporting the Great British Spring Clean.

The campaign is now up and running until 10 April and research shows that helping a local litter pick benefits our mental health as well as keeping our streets and beauty spots clean.

A survey by Keep Britain Tidy, which runs the initiative nationally, showed that 86% of people involved in a previous year's events said volunteering helped improve their mood. More than half (52%) agreed it helped them meet new people and make friends, and 91% said they felt more pride in their local area after participating.

If you organise a clean-up in West Lancashire, the Council can provide bin bags, litter pickers and a drop off point for the waste you collect. Please email environmental.enforcementofficers@westlancs.gov.uk to make arrangements.

Kathy Sephton, West Lancashire Borough Council Head of Environmental Services, said: "We value our local communities and know that you feel the same way, so please get involved in a local litter pick, or why not organise one yourselves? The research from Keep Britain Tidy shows this can help our mental health as well as cleaning up the places we love, which is another great incentive to get involved."

Allison Ogden-Newton OBE, Keep Britain Tidy's Chief Executive, said: “Whether it’s pledging to pick just one bag, or more, we can all carry out small acts of kindness - for our planet and for ourselves."

If you are out and about on your litter pick in West Lancashire please do not attempt to clean up fly-tipped waste. Please report this to the Council online at www.westlancs.gov.uk/flytipping so we can investigate before clearing it up.