Last updated 19:37, Thursday, 15 May 2008

A WORKINGTON man believes passionately in keeping the streets clean and even goes on his own litter picks to do his bit.

TIME FOR WASTE: Peter Smith, of Workington, picks litter along the banks of the River Derwent at Barepot

Page 6 pics and logo and what you think box

Peter Smith, 68, of Calva Brow, can be found most mornings between Barepot Bridge and Seaton Mill, picking up litter.

He said: “People should be ashamed about the state of our town and countryside and the fact that we are ankle deep in litter.”

He added that he felt the town was a disgrace in many places and he hoped that something can be done about the litter problem.

He said: “We need to educate people, especially children on how harmful dropping litter is, and encourage them not to do it. If teachers can give out mentions in assemblies or run an education programme then this could help reduce the problem.

“We have put up some Keep Britain Tidy signs around the district, and although they have remained there nobody seems to take any notice of them.”

Mr Smith, a member of Workington and District Civic Trust’s newly formed environmental committee, said fine weather made the problem worse.

Earlier this week, litter was strewn across the riverbanks at Workington’s Millfield and Barepot, popular picnic spots.

Mr Smith added: “The good weather we are having makes it worse because a lot of people come down to the river for picnics and then just leave all their rubbish lying around.

“It is not just the dropping of litter that is a problem, it is a hazard as well.

“The cycle path between Moorclose and Seaton is littered with glass and dog dirt and I know of people who have refused to use it because of the hazard it causes, particularly to users of mobile wheelchairs and mothers with prams.

“The council have, however, done a good job in clearing the site at Millfield and near the riverside, whereas it was an absolute tip before.”

“The fact that there are so few litter bins around means people just throw stuff out their car windows.

“People are uneducated about the problem and do not seem to really care for the environment that much.”