A COMMUNITY has come together to participate in the Great British Spring Clean for the first time.

More than 30 volunteers from Nawton and Beadlam grabbed a litter picker, wore high-viz orange vests and collected litter from verges and pavements on Bank Holiday Monday (May 31).

The Great British Spring Clean is a national campaign from May 28 to June 13 which encourages individuals, communities, organisations and councils to clear their area.

The #MillionMileMission theme, in collaboration with The Daily Mail, is asking volunteers to clear litter from streets, parks, beaches and many more. In total, more than 984,954.6 miles have been pledged towards the million-mile mission in the UK.

“I had the idea that we should join in the Great British Spring Clean not just to collect the litter but because we were looking for ways of bringing people in our villages together,” said Rebecca Hall, organiser of the event.

“We have had a lot of new people moving into the village in the last year and it’s been hard for them to get to know one another.

“It was good to see everyone chatting together, exchanging stories afterwards.

“I’m hoping this will be just the start of something, with more ideas coming forward that will help to build our sense of community.”

Organisers said they were grateful for the support from the Beckett Recreation Ground, Ryedale Environment Group, Thornton le Dale Litter Picking Group, Streetscene, Kirkbymoorside Brass Band, Nawton Primary School, Calvert’s Carpets and Nawton and Beadlam Parish Councils

Volunteer Mark Harrison added: “Our residential streets don’t seem to have litter generally, but everyone came back with litter in their bags, so clearly we are not as careful as we think we are.

“The A170 and Gale Lane were undoubtedly the worst, with bottles, cans, plastic and all sorts in the hedge back.”