PEOPLE living in the Burbank area of Hartlepool have taken part in a major clean-up operation to help improve the town.

The residents joined forces with Hartlepool Borough Council staff and representatives of the town's Asda store for a litter pick.

The event - centred on a community garden in Burbank Street - was held as part of Spring Clean Hartlepool, a council initiative running throughout April and May.

It aims to encourage individuals and groups to organise their own environmental improvement schemes.

"This event was a perfect example of what Spring Clean Hartlepool is all about - local people taking direct action to improve their communities," said Keeley Metcalfe, the council's community environmental action officer.

"I'd like to congratulate the residents and everyone else who took part, including the staff from Asda, for their sterling efforts."

Andrew Thorne, who lives locally and is a member of the Burbank Forum residents' sub-group, said: "There has been a big turnaround in the fortunes of the Burbank area recently, and the proposal to revive the community garden is a major long-term project."

The litter pick also attracted support from the Community Service Volunteers' Action Earth campaign.

They provided black sacks for the rubbish collected and refreshments for the clean-up team.