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Help volunteers target the worst litter grot-spots in Maidstone, Malling, and Weald.

12:00, 21 February 2017

A campaign has been launched to wage war on litter in the Garden of England – and your county needs YOU.

As volunteers prepare to arm themselves with bin bags for the first ever Great British Spring Clean next month, the Kent Messenger is appealing for readers to help identify the biggest grot-spots in need of some TLC.

The Keep Britain Tidy initiative aims to encourage people to organise and take part in clean-up events between Friday, March 3, and Sunday, March 5.

McDonald's staff who are going to be involved in a litter clean up event.
McDonald's staff who are going to be involved in a litter clean up event.

Long-standing partner McDonald’s is looking for help on where to focus their teams’ efforts.

A spokesman for the fast food restaurant said: “When readers have selected the area that needs the clean-up, we’ll do the rest – that’s everything from rallying the troops, supplying the bin bags and litter pickers and inviting people and community groups to join in.”

We’ve been inundated with responses, ranging from motorway verges, fly-tipping hotspots, and even one reader suggesting their daughter’s bedroom.

Old Ham Lane in Lenham, Gatland Park in Barming, the layby at Farleigh Hill in Tovil, Pratling Street in Aylesford and Greenway Court in Hollingbourne were all picked out as grot spots. Banks along the A229 at Blue Bell Hill and the A249 at Detling Hill were also named and shamed.

Meanwhile, Kent County Council is also planning a number of its own clean-ups and is encouraging clubs, communities, schools and businesses to get involved too.

Launching Keep Kent Clean, Paul Carter, leader of KCC, said: “We should all be proud of where we live and care about our communities. There’s just no excuse for chucking your rubbish on the ground.

“The cost to our district and borough authorities in Kent for picking up litter on our roadsides or in our town centres runs into millions of pounds a year – money that could be much better spent elsewhere.”

Each day an average of 2.25 million pieces of litter are dropped on Britain’s streets.

Comment below to add your suggestions to our shortlist

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