School children will give up holiday time to join five different groups to help clean up Maryport streets and beaches.

The Allerdale Youth Council, Her Citi, Zuza Trading, Allerdale and Maryport councils and the Maryporters are taking part in the national Great British Spring Clean.

The Maryport event starts outside Her Citi, 107 Crosby street, at 10am on Monday, April 8, where people will be supplied with cleaning utensils and bags and will end at the Marina where refreshments will be served at 12 noon.

Although the main aim is to clean up the beaches, Maryport organisers are hoping there will be enough people to create two teams - one for the beach and one to give Senhouse Street a spruce-up before Easter visitors arrive in the town.

Residents of all ages are being urged to join the school children and others in the big spring clean.

Meanwhile Maryport council will be asking schoolchildren to help find a way to keep the town permanently clean.

Chairman Peter Kendall told a meeting on Monday that dog fouling remains the largest contribution to filthy streets.

"I suggest we ask the Maryport schools' council to help. It might be as simple as reminding their own parents to pick up after their dogs and to dispose of poo bags responsibly. They may have other ideas about litter and dog fouling that we can use," he said.