DARLINGTON residents are being asked to do their bit to help make their town a cleaner and greener place to live.

As part of LitterFree Durham’s Big Spring Clean, which runs until May 12, Darlington Borough Council has asked people of all ages to organise litter picks in their neighbourhood.

It is hoped schools, community groups and individuals will lend their support, with the council providing the equipment needed to carry out the work.

Last year, 1124 people took part in 65 litter picks and collected 1265 bags of litter.

A number of litter picks have already been planned for the Easter holidays, including Geneva Wood, on Thursday (April 4), at 10am; Brinkburn Dene, on Tuesday, April 9, at 10am and Cocker Beck, on Tuesday, April 16, also at 10am.

Nick Wallis, the council’s cabinet member for leisure and local environment, said: “The majority of us take great pride in our area and don’t drop litter. The Big Spring Clean is a great way for local people to come together and help clean up after the minority who feel it is ok to drop litter in our borough.”

For help to organise a litter pick or to find out about the Litterfree Durham events log onto litterfreedurham.org, e-mail litterfreedurham@darlington.gov.uk or call 01325-347434.