By James Johnson

Last updated at 13:00, Monday, 04 March 2013

Scouts, Girl Guides, community groups and councillors turned out to clean up an area of Carlisle.

Jessica Gardiner does her bit

The Stanwix Big Tidy aims to make the place more pleasant for residents, as well as educating people to respect where they live.

On Saturday, families gave their free time to don high-visibility jackets and grab forks to help pick up rubbish and litter.

David Williams, chairman of community group Friends of Rickerby Park, said the event was a valuable one.

“We didn’t expect as many as this to turn up so we are pleased about that.

“So many people walk through the area and destroy it, but we can try and ameliorate the damage they cause.

“We come and litter pick every month but we shouldn’t have to,” he added.

Youngsters split up around the area to collect discarded food wrappers, plastic bags and even detached vacuum cleaner adapters.

Last week graffiti was daubed at Eden Bridges, formerly known as the Chinese Gardens.

Cumbria County Councillor Liz Mallinson said she was disgusted by the vandalism.

“It’s absolutely appalling,” she said. “Do people realise what they are doing?

“Green Spaces and the police should be going into schools and there should be more prosecutions,” she added.

Stanwix Primary School pupils have been showing their support for the campaign by taking part in a competition to create a poster urging people to clean up, and entries will be displayed in the Civic Centre this week.

Niki Iveson, assistant leader at 13th Carlisle Scout Group, thinks that community clean-up events are important.

She said: “It’s definitely something I believe in and we’re teaching the kids how to look after the area.

“They’re quite amazed by the amount of rubbish.

“They don’t enjoy the idea of it but when they are here they do like it.”

First published at 11:40, Monday, 04 March 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk