CLEAN-UP campaigners have had a bumper weekend tackling black spots in Malton and Norton.

Members of Malton and Norton Tidy Group meet monthly to help keep the two towns free of litter.

Volunteer Howard Keal picked up nine bags of rubbish in Bazley’s Lane, Norton, including broken sledges, a bike, bottles, bags, cans and food containers.

Howard said: “The patch I usually tackle is the area around the town’s signal box and County Bridge, where at its worst I collected a similar amount. This time I tried a change of scenery in a bid to help stop Bazley’s Lane being turned from beauty spot to blackspot.”

Howard said the area was so bad he had carried on picking up rubbish for three-and-a-half hours.

“Worst of all was a patch of brambles dripping with dog poo bags at the top of Scott’s Hill – they tear when pulling them out,” he said.

“The plastic is bad for the environment and if children were to pick blackberries later in the year that ugly surprise would have been waiting for them.

“Most dog owners are very responsible and pick up after their pet, then bin the bag, but this was just terrible.

“It just defies belief that someone is happy to sling it instead of bin it – all within sight of the dog waste bin.”

Part of the area cleared by Howard was land adjoining Bazley’s Lane, but he said it was impossible to remove heavy duty debris, which included toilets and dumped building materials.

Antony Croser, one of the organisers of the Malton and Norton Tidy Group, said: “Having collected 271 bags of litter in 2014, we continue to help clean up the streets of the towns. Already this year the group has collected 75 bags of litter.”

Malton and Norton Tidy Group meets on the first Sunday of the month, from 10am to noon, in Malton one month, Norton the next. For Malton, the meeting point is Water Lane car park, and for Norton it is St Nicholas Street car park. The next meeting is Malton on April 5.

In addition to the monthly meetings, the tidy group plans to litter pick the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race route through Norton on Sunday, April 26. The meeting point will be St Nicholas Street car park at 10am.

Anyone willing to get involved is asked to bring gloves and wear appropriate clothing. Litter pickers and bags will be provided.