HAMBLETON is getting spruced up for Christmas as teams of council workers tackle the unsightly scourge of litter.

The district council’s Waste and Street Scene team is busy tackling the growing amount of waste littering the district - including grass verges and laybys along the roadsides.

Garden waste collections are suspended during the winter months and during this time the teams are allocated other duties.

And in just the first few days they have collected almost 150 bags of rubbish, two tyres and a discarded television.

The team has been working from Toll Bar Garage to Saltergill Lane past Low Worsall, from Northallerton to Osmotherley, and along the A172 from Stokesley roundabout to the Tontine hotel near the A19.

Next week they will start work covering Northallerton to Toll Bar Garage and Northallerton to Kiplin Hall.

Paul Staines, director of environment, said: “Tackling litter and fly-tipping is a major priority for us.

“Despite a big rise in communities litter-picking their own areas, which is a huge help, we still see irresponsible people littering, especially from their cars.

"The public can help us further by reporting any incidents they see to us either by phone or via the website.”

There will be a Christmas tree collection service in January for households subscribing to the garden waste collection service; visit hambleton.gov.uk for details.