Residents in Sittingbourne are being encouraged to take part in the Clean for the Queen scheme.

People are invited to roll up their sleeves and grab a litter picker to keep their community tidy as part of a national initiative marking the Queen’s 90th birthday this year.

Groups of volunteers are already co-ordinating their regular clean-ups which culminates with events between today and Sunday.

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They are supported by Swale council which supplies bags, pickers and organises collections.

Volunteers from the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta spent yesterday collecting rubbish in Milton Creek Country Park, kick-starting the campaign for the borough.

Organiser and member of the club Richard Joy said: “The Queen’s birthday is in June, so it’s a little early for the party but nevertheless I think the idea is good in principle.

“It’s a beautiful park but it gets spoiled by the litter and bottles - that’s not kind to the wildlife either.

VIDEO: Volunteer says why he spends his spare time litter picking

“If people didn’t throw them away then we wouldn’t have to do it.”

Children from Holywell primary school in Upchurch will start their clean-up today, while another group of volunteers were due to meet at outside the dog track on Castle Road, Murston this morning.

Tomorrow, litter-pickers will be out in the Grove Park shopping centre area between 9.30am till 11.30am, residents in Sonora Fields are to meet beside The Meads community centre at 10am to start their four-hour clean-up.

The campaign also takes place in Upchurch as others work to tidy the recreation ground near the Scout hut from 10.30am.

Continuing beyond the weekend, Kemsley residents will meet in Lloyd Drive on Monday from 10am till noon and villagers in Hartlip will be looking to start their spring clean the following Saturday, March 12.

Cllr David Simmons, the council's cabinet member for environmental and rural affairs, said:

“We want to hear from community groups, schools, companies, and sports teams - whoever is keen to clean up their area, to get involved in the year of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

“We can provide free gloves and bags to help with any Swale litter pick and we’ll also arrange to pick up the rubbish collected.

“By working together, we can make a real difference and hopefully encourage people to take pride in their local area and not drop litter in future.”

Free litter sacks are available from Swale council. Anyone organising an event can register with the council by calling 01795 417 888