Litter-pickers find scooter and coffee machine

5:30pm Monday 13th October 2008

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PEOPLE of all ages gathered in Oakley to rid the streets of rubbish.

More than 80 people scoured parks, pavements and alleyways, armed with picking-sticks and bags. They dumped the rubbish in a skip parked in a lay-by by Oakley Lane.

The Big Clean Up Day, which took place on September 4, was organised by Oakley Parish Council. By the end of the day, the skip was full, including items such as a scooter, a coffee machine and a suitcase.

Nicole Wootten, of Severn Gardens, Oakley, found a large cardboard box in an alleyway off Kennet Way, with her father Andy, her brother Sam and her friend Rebecca.

The 12-year-old said: “We went around looking for rubbish and we found this massive cardboard box. I want the village to be clean because it is nice to be clean.”

Councillor Stan Babbs, of Oakley Parish Council, came up with the idea for a clean-up after admiring the cleanliness of parks on a holiday to the USA in May.

He said: “I thought Oakley was clean, but when I came back I decided to set myself a target of finding 10 pieces of rubbish every 50 metres.

“I was surprised to find how much rubbish there was, so I thought of this cleaning plan.”

He added: “It has really become a large village event and people are taking pride in the village. It’s nice to see the response.”