Volunteers from Monkton Priory School, Monkton Priory Unit, Spar store and many others got their hands dirty recently to help the Monkton Communities First team clear up Monkton.

Many residents, young and old, were fed up with the rubbish and dog fouling in the area and decided to do something about it for Tidy Wales Week.

Keep Wales Tidy officer Mari Williams was on hand with advice, encouragement and all the equipment needed to clear up rubbish and dog warden Ruth Edwards helped emphasise the problem of dog fouling by spraying all the dog poo in the area yellow!

Schoolchildren and young people from the Priory Unit enthusiastically cleared litter from Monkton Village Green and the surrounding streets, helped by teachers and staff, our PCSO's Kelly and Emma and John from PCC Maintenance Team.

Later, local residents joined the PCSOs, the Communities First team, Mari Williams and staff from the local Spar to clear up around the store, Long Mains and some of the courts. A total of 15 bags were collected, including two bags of materials that were later recycled.

Ruth continued to spray dog poo to highlight the unsightliness of dog fouling.

She said: "Dog poo can contain harmful bacteria that can cause blindness in children so it is essential to keep the streets and grassy areas where children play clean. Dog poo bags are very cheap and can be disposed of in normal litter bins. So pick it up!"

She also gave the children dog poo bags to give to adults with dogs. There also free dog poo bags available from the Spar, if your dog gets caught short! All the volunteers urge dog owners not to allow their dogs to foul the streets and not to drop any more rubbish.

Communities First Development Officer, Pip Welton said: "By working in partnership with Keep Wales Tidy and others, we have shown local residents just how much we can achieve if we all pull together."

She added: "We are looking forward to getting more local people involved in the future."

Monkton School will be starting a campaign in the form of a poster and sticker competition to highlight the dangers of rubbish to children.

If you would like to get involved in further clean ups, please contact Jo Brookman, development officer, Monkton Communities First, on 01646 680373 or email [email protected]">[email protected]