LITTER-PICKERS were out in force in Johnstone on Saturday as a local group cleaned up the town. 

The recently formed Spateston Community Group took to the streets as members of all ages tackled the mess in the neighbourhood. 

Around 20 people spent the day in the rain making the area spick and span as they collected bags and bags of rubbish.

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One of the community heroes on the day was the group’s organiser’s Christina Rooney, who had taken to Facebook to appeal for help.

After the clean up, she told The Gazette: “About a month ago, myself and Christine McColgan created a group on Facebook and in the time we have grown to around 300 members.

“We got to thinking about how we could arrange an event in the area and got in touch with Renfrewshire Council.

The Gazette:

The group gathered in lots of bags of rubbish 

“We then asked for volunteers and appealed to the local schools and clubs.

“On the day, we were worried that no one would turn up as it was pouring. But, thankfully, we ended up with around 20 people and all ages. 

“From grannies to 5-year-olds, everyone got stuck in and the day went really well.” 

The Gazette:

Christina's mum Sadie McLuaghlin (78) was getting stuck into the litter 

As a result of the success of Saturday’s event, the group are now looking to expand their community programmes and will launch a new walking group and hope to make the clean up a regular event.

Christina continued: “We really want to reach out to the elderly in the community and to give them a space to be social and involved.

“We won’t have another clean up date set as of yet, but hope to do it in the next month.”

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For more information on the group, search for Spateston Community Group on Facebook.