OKEHAMPTON Primary School, the Okehampton Neighbourhood Policing Team and the Okement Rivers Improvement Group will be among those turning out on the streets on Saturday, October 26 for the second Keep Okehampton Tidy day.

The idea of uniting the town's organisations and voluntary groups to do a big litter clear up was formed after pupils of Kes Tor Class wrote individual letters to town mayor Cllr the Rev Mike Davies about the overuse of plastic shopping bags and the problem of litter in the town.

The mayor visited the school to discuss their environmental projects, and the idea of a community litter pick was born.

The first Keep Okehampton Tidy day was back in April, and was such a success that an autumn litter pick was arranged.

Cllr the Rev Mike Davies said: 'When we carried out the litter pick earlier in the year it was amazing how many cartons, boxes and bags we found from the likes of KFC and McDonalds.

'This highlights the case that a lot of rubbish is dropped from people passing through the town rather than our actual residents.

'I am hoping that once again, the community will pull together and make an effort to keep our wonderful town tidy.'

On the day, residents are free to collect litter in their own street and bag it up with their usual weekly rubbish collection.

If people would prefer to be part of a larger group, the two main litter picking groups will meet at 10am. General litter pickers can meet at the gates of Okehampton Primary School, while the Ockment Rivers Improvement Group will meet by the recycling bins in Waitrose Car Park.

There are several other groups involved who have already been designated areas to collect litter, with their own meeting times. Numerous residents' groups are teaming up to collect litter.

The Okehampton Neighbourhood Policing Team will again be involved, and is inviting everyone taking part in the event to visit the police station in the afternoon for refreshments. Children will be allowed to sit in a police vehicle.

Rubbish delivered to Okehampton Primary School will be collected by Focsa. All rubbish bags dropped at the school must be delivered by 2.30pm on the day.

A Facebook page with details on the event has been set up, entitled Keep Okehampton Tidy.

Should residents require further information, green awareness tabards or plastic collection bags, you can contact Cllr the Rev Mike Davies on 01837 659841.