More than 1,000 people have signed up to help keep the Malvern Hills district clean and tidy.

The Adopt a Street Scheme, run by Malvern Hills District Council, sees residents, community groups and businesses choose a section of street or public land and pledge to litter pick on a regular basis.

The scheme has grown in popularity since its creation in 2019 and has now reached 1,010 volunteers.

The project was started by the Community and Environmental Protection Team in a bid to encourage residents across the district to ‘adopt’ a street and help make the district a cleaner and tidier place to live. 

The team also carry out regular litter picking and street cleansing duties together with other activities to help encourage people to dispose of their litter responsibly.

Anyone who signs up to the scheme will receive litter picking equipment and bags, guidance on health and safety, and regular newsletters. 

More litter picking volunteers are currently required for the following areas:

• Longdon

• Morton 

• Teme Valley

• Woodbury

• Great Witley

Residents can visit www.malvernhills.gov.uk/community/adopt-a-street for more information and to sign up.

In 2021, the council’s Adopt a Street Scheme was awarded Litter Initiative of the Year by Keep Britain Tidy, which recognises projects that have reduced litter through behaviour change.

Cllr John Raine, portfolio holder for environmental services at the council, said: “We are really pleased with the success of this scheme and the positive difference it makes for local communities.

“Thank you to all our volunteers who contribute and work so hard, to make the district a clean and tidy place for residents and visitors alike.”

Carol and Peter Longman were the first and second volunteers to sign up to the Adopt-a-Street Scheme in 2019.

They said: “We do it to keep our local area tidy and to protect wildlife, we appreciate living in a nice area and want to do our bit.

“Lots of people say thank you to us as we litter pick, which is always a good thing. Most of the litter we pick up are bottles and cans, during the pandemic masks were a bit of a problem too.

“We really don’t like cigarette butts and there are so many of them.”