Students from Hugh Baird College have formed a volunteer group to help clean up the streets around the college’s Bootle campus.

The group, comprised of learners from across the college’s courses, have created their own ‘Community Action Group’ to tackle the litter on the streets of Bootle with an aim to make a difference to the local community.

The students were supported during their first litter-picking sessions by Sefton Council’s Locality Services who provided bags and litter pickers as well as two Eco vehicles to assist with sweeping and clearing.

In total they filled over 100 refuse bags of rubbish, ranging from takeaway bags to plastic bottles.

Rebecca Clegg, a Hospitality and Catering student at Hugh Baird College, said: “I enjoyed our first get-together to clean up the streets around our campus and I was astonished to see the amount of litter we collected after just a few hours. I feel proud of the difference we’ve made so far.”

Peter Moore, Sefton Council’s Head of Highways & Public Protection, said: “These students are setting a real example for how our communities have a role to play in keeping our borough looking great. I hope that people will take notice of these students, leading by example, and will think again before they decide to drop litter. Perhaps they’ll even encourage others to keep their streets tidy too.

“We do have limited Council resources and so strengthening relationships with local building and landowners, as well as volunteer and community groups, ensures that we can work together in a collective effort that means we all take responsibility to keep Sefton clean, green and beautiful.”