MORE than 2,000 people have been to Clean Up Wiltshire roadshows aimed at raising awareness of the impact of litter on the environment.

And more than 100 businesses have pledged to help reduce waste and recycle more as part of the Wiltshire Council initiative sponsored by Landmarc Support Services, which aims to reduce the annual £2.5million bill taxpayers currently pay to have litter cleared up in the county.

Bridget Wayman, cabinet member for waste, said: “This campaign is a great way to let people across the county know about the wider issues around litter, and to offer advice on how to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“We hope as many people as possible will join local community groups and take part in this year’s Great British Spring Clean in March, to help tackle the litter hot spots in communities.

“We currently spend £2.5m each year cleaning up litter in Wiltshire. That money that could be better spent on vital services.

“Wiltshire is a beautiful county, and we want to keep it that way,” she added.

The next phase of Clean Up Wilts is the Great British Spring Clean, a national campaign, and has been rescheduled to the weekend of March 23, following the extreme weather and snow seen in the county caused by the Beast from the east last weekend.

More than 100 litter picks are currently registered for the 2018 Great British Spring Clean across the county’s 18 community areas, with more to be confirmed.

Teams of volunteers armed with gloves, bags and picking gear tackle footpaths, public open spaces and verges in their towns and villages to clear them of rubbish.

Among the littler picks being organised in the Swindon area is the Ferndale clean up starting at 9am on March 18 from the gates of Ferndale School.

More information about local picks is available at wiltshire.gov.uk/cleanupwilts