IT is the can-do attitude of one Trowbridge Park volunteer that has caught the eye of town council who have named him the Can Man for his efforts of scouring the park to recycle rubbish.

Ken Harding first started dedicating his time to tidying up the park two years ago and since then has collected hundreds of bags worth of cans and other rubbish which he has gone on to recycle at the recycling centre in Canal Road.

“It was when I saw the others out there cutting twigs off and branches and stacking them up that I thought it would be a lot easier if there was two people doing to the job and that’s how I started to help,” the 67-year-old said.

“I come in at about 6.15am and I finish I would say around lunchtime – sometimes when I start it’s so dark that I get my head torch out to see where the rubbish is.”

Retired Mr Harding, who used to live in Bradford on Avon but now lives in Clarks Place, Trowbridge, humbly said he doesn’t expect anything from giving up his time and said being dubbed the Can Man is something he is quite proud of.

He added: “Instead of being stuck at home twiddling my thumbs or wondering what to do, I thought I would do something positive and active and I get to meet a lot of people in the park which is nice.

“I used to like gardening when I was at school but I lost interest when I left and I lost two fingers over the years but that hasn’t stopped me to do anything though.

“You do get asked what you are doing from people but never a thank you. They just want to know why I’m tidying up.

“I could easily pick up a bag of cans a day. It would be a lot tidier if people used the bins instead of chucking their cans and rubbish on the floor.”

Maryrose Mantle, Community Development Officer put Mr Harding’s name forward after seeing him every day as she gets into work at the Civic Centre.

She said. “In my view, this is such a good volunteering scheme.

“Years ago, we used to have a can man and unfortunately he just passed away and Ken has taken on the title as he helps out in the park including weekends. He is there incredibly early, picking up rubbish and sorting it out with our chap from Landscapes. He recycles as much as he can and I think that it is wonderful that he does it out of the goodness of his own heart for free.”