TEENAGERS have helped clean up a Worcester estate by tracking down abandoned shopping trolleys.

In Easter last year, two groups of 13-17-year-olds were challenged to see how many of the £250 trolleys from Sainsbury's they could retrieve from the streets of Blackpole.

In total, 30 trolleys were collected and the Trolley Trackers scheme - a joint venture between Nexus Housing, Worcester Police and the Blackpole Sainsbury's store - has been extended.

Youngsters can now return the trolleys between certain times and get special cards stamped.

In return, they get vouchers which can be used in stores in the city centre.

Among the young people who took part was 16-year-old James Beck who said: "It is a great scheme that is really easy to do, helps keep the estate clean, helps Sainsbury's keep its trolleys - and we can earn money at the same time!"

Mike Spencer, manager of Sainsbury's in Windermere Drive, Blackpole, agreed that the scheme has been a runaway success.

He said: "We do everything we can to keep the trolleys on the premises but people still take them.

"But this has been such a success it's a win, win, win situation for everybody.

"The kids get vouchers to spend for bringing the trolleys back, it keeps the estate clean, and since the scheme was introduced we have never run out of trolleys."

As a result of the scheme's success, other organisations are looking to introduce the idea in other areas of the city.

Margaret Faulkner, housing officer for Nexus Housing, said: "The idea was to engage youngsters and stop them getting involved with anti-social behaviour while improving the estate and helping the supermarket keep its trolleys. It has been really successful."

PC Duncan Eades, who patrols the area, said: "It has been successful in a number of ways, but particularly with young people taking an active pride in their area and doing something meaningful.

"It just goes to show that if youngsters - and parents, who have been involved in running the project - want to improve their surroundings there is nothing to stop them."

Earier this year Worcester City Council launched a crackdown on litter in a bid to make Worcester the cleanest city by 2008, but itdeclined to comment on the Trolley Trackers Scheme.

Yesterday, the Worcester News reported how falling river levels had revealed a hoard of unsightly rubbish along the banks of the Severn, including traffic cones, bicycles and road signs - but no shopping trolleys.