VOLUNTEER litterpickers were out last Friday cleaning up one of Malvern's litter blackspots.

The volunteers managed to pick up enough rubbish to fill 16 binliners from footpaths in the Bellars Lane/Wedderburn Road area.

"It was very wet and we got absolutely soaked. So, considering the weather conditions I think we did pretty well," said Ann Silk, one of the volunteers.

After a hard morning's litter-picking, the volunteers returned to the Langland Community Centre to enjoy a slap-up barbecue.

The event was part of the Rubbish? Sort It! campaign that is running in the Malvern area until May 17.

The aim is to clear up some of the town's worst littered sites, while encouraging more people to recycle their waste.

The Duckworth Worcestershire Trust, which is backing the campaign, is calling upon as many people as possible to help make a difference and improve Malvern's environment.

More than 25 community groups were involved last year and around ten tonnes of litter was picked up, of which nearly a tonne was recycled. This year, the trust hopes to do even better.

The trust loans litter pickers, sashes, gloves and badges to participating groups and hands out various coloured bags for recycling.

Last Friday's event was sponsored by Whitbread Action Earth.

The next litter-picking event is on Saturday, May 10, at a site to be decided. Anyone wanting to take part, should call the trust on 01905 459343.

The trust will also have a stand at Malvern's May Day event in Priory Park, tomorrow (Saturday).

"You just have to keep at it," said Ann Silk. "You have to pick up rubbish every time you see it."