By Victoria Brenan

Last updated at 14:42, Thursday, 21 February 2013

Residents in Carlisle are being urged to come together and help clean up their neighbourhood.

Stanwix is hosting the Big Tidy Up week next month with organisers promising a “comprehensive” clean-up.

The six-day campaign starts on March 2 and involves practical work together with a competition for local schoolchildren.

The week will begin with a litter-pick on Saturday March 2, from 10am to 1pm, followed by city council teams targeting dog fouling and litter.

Councillor Paul Nedved said the Tidy Ups were becoming firm fixtures on the Stanwix calendar and were well supported by the community.

“We cover quite a large area from Stanwix up to St Augustine’s church and Morrisons,” he said.

“We gather intelligence on where the problem areas are. For the past couple of years we’ve had these spring cleaning events – and autumn as well.”

Mr Nedved said they covered areas which are not prime routes for the regular city council cleaning and enforcement teams, such as the cricket ground and under Eden Bridges.

He said around 40 volunteers were involved last year and would be supported by Guides and Scouts this year, plus Friends of Rickerby Park.

A poster competition about the clean-up has been launched at Stanwix school with the mayor judging the entries next week. The best five will receive £20 book tokens but around 25 to 30 others will be given to shops, restaurants and businesses to display, Mr Nedved said.

“We had around 200 entries last year so it was very popular,” he added.

Jacquelyne Geddes, councillor for Stanwix Urban, said: “We hope to encourage as many residents as possible to get involved.”

Volunteers are asked to meet at the community association centre, in Church Street, at 10am.

First published at 14:29, Thursday, 21 February 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk