CROCKHAM Hill residents have joined forces to keep every road in the village free of litter.

Kev Reynolds, 65, of Froghole Lane, was "overwhelmed" by the response after he asked for volunteers to help keep the village clean and tidy in April's edition of the parish newsletter.

Another call for help this month in the same newsletter generated more support. Now 14 volunteers, the primary school and the village's WI all have their own designated areas to keep tidy.

Mr Reynolds said: "My wife and I became increasingly concerned about the amount of litter dumped in the village over the years. I organised a sponsored clear up of the village in the 1970s but that only went on for a few months.

"My wife and I have been clearing up rubbish for a long time now and always have a rubbish bag in the car. It is not neurotic; we just like things to be tidy."

Fed up with the amount of rubbish in the village he asked for help in the Crockham Hill newsletter, which he edits. Mr Reynolds said: "I was overwhelmed by the response, immediately I had people calling up, wanting to help. They each chose an area they wanted to keep tidy.

"I put it (the advert) in again this month and to my surprise more people responded. We now have pretty much every road in the village covered which is fantastic.

"I am sure it is already starting to look cleaner."

Mr Reynolds is a travel writer and so his job takes him around the world. He said: "We have become one of the dirtiest nations on earth and it is embarrassing.

"I am not going to change the whole country but I can at least make a difference in my own back yard.

"I am absolutely delighted this seems to have taken off, people keep stopping me and asking about it or asking to help which shows they are interested."