A RECENT sponsored litter pick gathered three trailers full of rubbish from Tavistock roads.

Three teams of Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt supporters carried out a sponsored litter pick, where each spent two hours collecting rubbish from roads around the town.

The teams were appalled at the amount of rubbish discarded at the side of the roads in Tavistock.

James Allenby, a Spooners and West Dartmoor Hunt member, said: 'Although FOCSA have been very helpful, we know they could do better. Their lorries tend to spill debris that is not properly clamped, but the evidence we found — empty beer and soft drinks cans, empty crisp packets, chocolate wrappers and sandwich boxes, not to mention the odd tyre or two —incriminated regular road users, the thoughtless, couldn't care less mentality of people who wind down their car windows and throw their waste into the hedgerows. This is mostly plastic, non-degradable rubbish.

'Please think of the harm you are doing to our environment. Take your litter home with you and put it in your own dustbin.'

The teams worked hard to clear the litter, but are aware that there is a lot more rubbish left around the town.

Mr Allenby said: 'The Highways Department and waste disposal teams do not have the budgets to clear this mess. So either stop rubbishing Tavistock or do something about it.'

Mr Allenby thinks community groups such as Neighbourhood Watch, schools, sports clubs and charities could make sections of the road their responsibility.

'It is not below anyone to take a bag when going out for an afternoon walk and pop any rubbish found, into the bag. I know a number of people who do this and take the litter home to their own bin.'