EAST Hampshire residents can join a campaign aiming to get half a million people across the country to clean up their local community.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is encouraging and supporting groups and individuals that want to ‘do their bit’ to help clear up litter in streets and parks.

The brand new Great British Spring Clean will roll out for the first time in 2017, with a view to it becoming an annual event helping to bring people together and clean up the country.

People taking part in the event, held during the weekend of March 3, will be able to use litter picking equipment supplied by EHDC’s street cleansing contractor to clear litter from an area of their choice.

Richard Millard said: “Last year the Clean for the Queen campaign was a massive success with hundreds of people across the district volunteering to join litter-picks in their own towns and villages.

“We are delighted to be supporting the Great British Spring Clean and we encourage as many groups, individuals and organisations as possible to take part. “

The campaign is backed by key anti-litter charities including Keep Britain Tidy, the Women’s Institute, the National Trust and the RSPCA, as well as a range of businesses.

East Hampshire residents can register their own litter picks by Saturday, February 18, by going to www.easthants.gov.uk/GreatBritishSpringClean and for more on the nationwide campaign visit www.greatbritishspringclean.org.uk