STATISTICS from Much Marcle volunteers indicate that last year was the worst on recent record for littering, along roads near the village.

In 2014, Much Marcle Parish Council announced that biannual community litter picks would take place, to deal with the problem.

Since then, volunteers have taken up the burden for the litter picks, especially on the south side of the A449.

But figures from 2016, published in the village's newsletter, The Mercury, show that the no-littering message is just not getting through to some people, because the problem is apparently getting worse.

A spokesman for the volunteers said: "The total number of black bags of litter collected by volunteers in 2014 was 12; in 2015 it was 11, and in 2016 a total of 29.5 bags were collected."

However, the apparent spike in littering may be down, partly, to more litter picks in more local areas.

The spokesman added: "The high number of bags collected in 2016 reflects increased effort, including monthly litter picks along the Dymock Road, two litter picks along Kempley Road and Gamage Hill to Lyne Down and Old Pike, in April and September, and a ‘one-off’ litter pick along Watery Lane to Graham Baker Motors, in August."

But with so much litter being collected, the volunteers are wondering what else can be done.

The spokesman said: "Who are the ‘litter people’ and why do they litter? If you’re a visitor, why despoil the place you’ve come to enjoy? If you’re a local, you’re one of us and it’s our place. So please take your litter home with you.

"What more can be done?"