OKEHAMPTON Primary School, the town's Chamber of Trade, town police and the Okement Rivers Improvement Group will be among those turning out this weekend to help clear up litter around the town.

Saturday, April 27 has been officially declared 'Keep Okehampton Tidy' day. A number of organisations and children, staff and parents from the primary school will turn out across the town to pick up litter and tidy the town.

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 state of littering in the town.

After visiting the school and talking the idea through with pupils and staff, the litter picking event was created. As the event has drawn closer, more and more organisations have shown their community spirit and pledged to get involved.

Cllr the Rev Davies said: 'As mayor, I would like the people of Okehampton to be proud of this wonderful town and to work together to collect litter. We are looking to encourage people to use less plastic bags when shopping as it is amazing how many bags end up in hedgerows.

'Several of the children of Okehampton Primary School took the initiative to raise the issue and to see what we can do to improve the look of the town and it would be great if we could support them.'

Fran Rickwood, the primary school's eco-co-ordinator, said: 'This clean-up will show others that we care about the future of our local environment and that we are not prepared to live, work and play in an area that can be blighted by rubbish.

'What is good about working together like this, is that it creates a sense of community and for some of our younger volunteers it is their first taste of active citizenship.'

The core group will meet at the entrance to Okehampton Primary School at 9.30am. The river improvement group will also meet at 9.30am, at the recycling bins in Waitrose car park.

On the day, anyone can help do their bit by going out and picking up any litter they see. Rubbish collected can be delivered to Okehampton Primary School by 2.30pm on the day, or bagged up correctly and put out with normal household rubbish and recycling collection.

After the event, Okehampton Neighbourhood Policing Team is inviting everyone who takes part in the litter pick up to come back to the police station at 3pm for refreshments.

A police vehicle will be available for the children to sit in, items from the museum will be on display and there will be activities for children as a reward for starting the litter pick initiative.

If you or your organisation would like to pledge your support, please call mayor Cllr the Rev Davies on 01837 659841 or e-mail [email protected]">[email protected]

Alternatively you can call the town hall on 01837 53179.