A volunteer group has formed in a North East town to protect the local environment.

The Eaglescliffe Community Litter project (ECLJ) has so far collected 180 bags of litter and waste in five months.

It aims to clean up parks, residential areas, and even industrial estates, for the benefit of the whole community.

The group has volunteers of all ages who meet regularly on Eaglescliffe streets to tackle discarded waste.

It hopes this will inspire others and instil a sense of community pride contributing to behaviour change around pollution in the area.

Most read:

Black Friday Sale! Grab our digital subscription for just £6 for six months. Limited time only

Group member Rebecca, explained: "There are many benefits to litter picking. It’s a great way to meet new people, have fun, exercise and make an immediate difference that everyone can value.  

“The litter keeps on coming so some might say it’s a pointless exercise, but the hope is that the less waste that’s already on the ground, the less likely people are to think it's acceptable or normal to drop their can, bottle or crisp packet. 

 “We need to encourage people to be responsible, inspire others to do the right thing and minimise any damage to our environment.”