RESIDENTS of Okehampton are being urged to think before they throw their rubbish on the ground after two townsfolk expressed their dismay at increasing levels of litter.

Robert Flexman, who was recognised with an Okehampton Mayor Award in 2012 for his efforts in tirelessly picking up litter among other projects, and Christine Marsh, a member of the Okement Rivers Improvement Group, went out litter picking on Christmas Eve, visiting the entrances to the town on New Road and off the A30 sliproad at the BP service station.

In one day they picked up seven and a half black bags of litter, including parts of a car bumper. Several weeks later the duo went out again and picked up another four and a half bags full of rubbish.

Christine Marsh said she wished that people paid more thought before littering.

She said: 'Why is it that we plant daffodils and try to make the entrance to our town and community look nice, yet people are so blasé about littering? Is this what things have come to?

'I drove through town a few nights ago and there was plastic and rubbish all about the street. People's living habits have changed. We don't make meals and all sit around the table now like we used to, we are grazing all the time, life is busy and we are on the move.

'All the food wrappers and bottles then often end up as litter. It makes up so much of the litter we pick up.

'We just want people to think before they litter. People should hang on to their rubbish and put it in a litter bin and not throw it on the ground. It is frustrating.'

Numerous groups have helped to try to solve litter problems in the town, with the 'Keep Okehampton Tidy' project uniting community groups several times a year to carry out a town litter pick.

Okehampton Primary School has also had littering as a topic for school children in recent years, encouraging youngsters to not throw their rubbish on the ground.

Christine said she would like to see more people getting involved with keeping the town tidy.

She said: 'I am sure there are people out there who would like to help and keep the town looking tidy'

If you would like to get involved with Christine and Robert's litter picking efforts, call Christine on 01837 52350.