MEMBERS of Wyre Forest's UKIP branch have completed their month of litter picks throughout the area.

On each Saturday morning during August, between 9.30 and noon, party members and councillors took to clean up the streets.

By the end of the month more than 85 bags of rubbish were filled and disposed of by the litter pickers who were led by Wyre Forest District Councillor Michael Wrench.

Mr Wrench said: “For our final litter pick for this campaign we were out on the Sion Hill estate in Kidderminster and by the end of the morning more than 30 bags were filled which were picked up by council just as we finished, which was great timing.

“During our very successful four week campaign to help tidy up our area we have covered areas all over Wyre Forest and collected a total of 87 bags of litter that was blighting our communities.

“We hope this will spur on others to go out and tidy up around their own areas to help keep Wyre Forest looking nice and clean.”

Mr Wrench, whose father Eddie was a former council worker known locally as the singing road sweeper, originated the idea after spending two days helping out refuse crews in Kidderminster.

He said that local councillors need to be more hand on with community life and need to know what people go through before they can make decisions which will impact people’s lives.

“UKIP believes we all need to do our bit and councillors should lead by example,” he said.

“We need to encourage community spirit by coming together to keep our areas tidy and safe for children to play.

“Despite it raining, quite heavily at times, we still went ahead, which is exactly the same for our council refuse workers who have to go out in all weathers.”

Mr Wrench was grateful for the support the group received during their campaign by council staff at the Green Street depot in Kidderminster as well as local residents.

He added: “I’d like to say a big thank you to Steve Brant and all the council staff for providing all the necessary equipment, pickers, gloves, bags, and for picking up all the collected rubbish.

“The most encouraging part of being out and about on the estates was the thanks we have received from members of the public for taking the time and making an effort to make a difference.

“We hope to do more community litter picks in the future.”