A 5 LITRE container still full of corrosive liquid, two bundles of undelivered supermarket flyers and a dead mouse — drowned in a waterlogged crisp packet — were among the rubbish amassed in 30 sacks of litter collected from paths and hedgerows by volunteers in Tavistock last Saturday.

Twenty volunteers of all ages came together as part of the latest Tidy Tavy street clean-up, which is aimed at improving the town's environment and encouraging others to take a pride in the local community.

The monthly initiative was established in October by Pamela Steele and Jane Miller and is registered as part of Keep Britain Tidy's Big Tidy Up campaign. The organisation supplies the local volunteers with high-visibility tabards, bags, posters and bin stickers, while West Devon Borough Council provides litter-picking tools and collects the refuse amassed.

Last weekend, Tidy Tavy volunteers spent two hours litter-picking. Routes covered included the skate park, Pixon Lane and industrial estate, where nine sacks of litter were collected.

Mrs Steele said: 'This road was very bad. Two of the bags we collected were full of drinks cans and plastic bottles.

'One sack of litter was collected in the vicinity of the Bodyzone Health Club on the grass area and in the hedge near the car parking area — a bin placed in this area by the club might help to alleviate this problem.'

Other routes covered included Whitchurch Road, the town centre and Market Street, while a team of four tackled the Anderton layby on the A386.

In the Crowndale area, volunteers said they found two bundles of Lidl brochures.

Mrs Steele said: 'This happens almost every litter pick, so it looks like someone is not doing their job delivering them.'

Mrs Steele also monitors the town's canal and reports any rubbish found to South West Water, which the utility then clears.

South West Water is currently sponsoring a poster competition at Tavistock College in support of the ongoing community campaign, where last week Mrs Miller and county councillor for Tavistock, Debo Sellis, presented talks on the initiative, to first and second year students.

Volunteers will be welcomed at the sixth Tidy Tavy clean-up on Saturday April 7, meeting at the Wharf car park at 10am.

The group will also be holding an Easter bonnet competition on the day for tidy-uppers, with a small prize awarded for the best headgear.