Ploggers and litter pickers do their bit to clean up the streets of Stamford and Rutland

Litter pickers are calling on people to join their crusade to rid our streets of rubbish.

Volunteers were out in force across Stamford and Rutland over the weekend to clean up the towns and do their bit for the environment.

Stamford Litter Pickers collected 33 bags of rubbish on Sunday along Ryhall Road, taking their total to 490 bags collected since the group was set up in January 2017.

The Rutland Ploggers, inspired by the Swedish concept of jogging while litter picking, collected five bags in Oakham on Saturday.

Kayleigh Nicolaou, who set up the Stamford group, said: “It can be quite disheartening when you clean up an area and walk past half an hour later to find there is more rubbish, but you have to just focus on how much worse it would be if we hadn’t bothered.

“Some people seem to have the attitude that it’s not their job, but we all have a responsibility to look after our community.

“Litter picking is seen as some kind of punishment but it’s actually really rewarding to see the difference you make. “

The Stamford group meets every few weeks. They tackle entry roads into town and litter hotspots like Drift Road and Cambridge Road.

Kayleigh, 33, said: “Over the last few months the problem seems to be getting worse but I hope people will start to think differently when they see us out about about.”

Volunteers are also doing their bit for the environment in Rutland.

As a keen runner Manjinder Jagdev has brought the Swedish concept of plogging to Oakham.

Rutland Ploggers combine jogging and litter picking. The group was set up in July and meets each month.

Gloves and grabbers were provided by Rutland County Council so volunteers just need to turn up with a bin bag.

Manjinder said: “It’s incredible how much we find, especially in light of programmes like Blue Planet and Drowning In Plastic which highlight the damage we are causing.

“We’re messing up the planet.”

Among the items they’ve collected is a crisp packet from 1999, proving how long rubbish will stick around for.

Manjinder said: “We hope more people will join us or be inspired to set up a group in their own area.

“We have to make these changes because it’s causing so many problems for our wildlife. It’s not just our generation we need to think about. It’s about our children’s generation too.”

To find out where the groups are meeting next follow their Facebook groups Rutland Ploggers or Stamford Litter Pickers.

The Stamford group can also be contacted at stamfordlitterpickers@hotmail.com