St David's Day was celebrated with a litter pick by members of the Prince Rupert Green Community Group.

Young and old members alike were out in force in the early spring sunshine on Sunday March 1, for an organised litter pick along New Mills Way.

They covered the whole of the road on both sides, picking up a total of nine full dustbin liner bags full of litter, including a champagne bottle and a full nappy.

"We wanted to show that we are doing more than just maintaining the green immediately outside our own homes," said committee member Karen

Lording.

She added: "The latest hacking-back of the verges had made it obvious that a large amount of litter was there and it seemed an ideal opportunity

to get together to tidy things up."

As well as large numbers of bottles, cans and plastic bags, the one-hour pick also found such unlikely items as a ballcock and a baby carrier.

The Community Group originally came together last year when Ledbury was getting badly overgrown due to cutbacks in grass cutting by Herefordshire

Council. They started out by informally collecting and taking away grass left behind on the green itself. Since then, they have also organised two successful fund raising events on the Green that have enabled residents to have the grass cut regularly and also treated professionally, making it once again possible for children to play on it.

Activities will continue this year, beginning on Easter Sunday with an Easter Egg Hunt in the roads around Prince Rupert Green.

In late spring, there

will be a sports-themed family event, before the return of the picnic and family day towards the end of the summer that drew several hundred

people last year. Further details will be sent out shortly.