THREE city councillors intend to roll up their sleeves and pick up litter in southern Worcester this weekend.

Independents Coun Mike Layland, Mike Francis and Stan Knowles have pencilled this Sunday in their diaries as a likely date for cleaning up a path between County Hall and Nunnery Lane.

"We're going to start from Chelmsford Court and go as far as we can," said Coun Layland, who complained the path was strewn with "general rubbish".

He said he had been surprised to learn from Worcester City Council that the route, more or less parallel to Prestwich Avenue in Ronkswood, was owned by the local education authority rather than being a public right of way.

Coun Layland claimed the city and county council should be firmer with louts, particularly youngsters, who tossed their rubbish on the ground.

"We've got bylaws to deal with this, but I don't think the children realise that," he said.

"It's time we said to them, 'hey - pick that up' when they drop their rubbish.

"We'll get a mouthful of abuse, but we have to take preventative measures if we are serious about tackling litter.

"If we spent less money on clearing litter from our streets we might have funds available for things like skateboarding parks."

A spokesman for Worcestershire County Council said he was unable to confirm if the LEA owned the land.

He said the council's education officers tended to take their holidays when the schools were on holiday.

Councillor Dan Wicksteed, the county council's portfolio holder for education, was unavailable for comment as the Evening News went to press.

6 Opinion: P12