The Great British Spring Clean (GBSC) across Newark and Sherwood saw 248 residents take part, including in Clipstone, Blidworth, Rainworth and Bilsthorpe.

The country’s biggest mass-action environment campaign focused on the #BigBagChallenge and asked people to pledge to pick a bag of litter from nearby streets, beauty-spots and green spaces to protect communities and wildlife habitats.

Keep Britain Tidy reported that almost half a million bags of waste were pledged this year and the work of the volunteers in Newark and Sherwood saw 232 bags of waste and various large items collected, including multiple car tyres and wooden fencing.

The volunteer litter picks were organised by parish councils, established volunteer groups, local councillors, and schools. Newark and Sherwood District Council worked with the volunteers to provide equipment and collected waste.

Coun Roger Jackson, portfolio holder for Cleaner, Safer, Greener, said: “It has been fantastic to see our community coming together to take part in the Great British Spring Clean. I’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who got stuck in and helped tidy up their local area. It is encouraging to see volunteer litter picking groups successfully working together with the district council.

“Taking the time and effort to organise the events and go out and tidy up after those who continue to blight our district with litter is no small task, and I commend all those who got out there and made a difference.

“We all want to take pride in the community we live in and campaigns like this really prove how dedicated our residents are to creating a cleaner, safer, greener Newark and Sherwood.”

The district council offers support all year to any person, parish council, school or community group that would like to organise a voluntary litter pick in their area.

Support includes promoting the pick locally to encourage involvement; providing equipment, including black bags and high-vis vests; and collecting waste.

For more information on community litter picks visit www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/communitylitterpicking/