EAST Hampshire residents are being urged to join a campaign that is aiming to get half a million people across the country to clean up their community.

The new Great British Spring Clean will roll out for the first time in March, with a view to it becoming an annual event helping to bring people together and clean up the country.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) is encouraging and supporting groups and individuals that want to ‘do their bit’ to help clear up the litter that blights our streets and parks.

People taking part in the event, held during the weekend of March 3-5, will be able to use litter-picking equipment supplied by EHDC’s street cleansing contractor, idverde, to clear litter from an area of their choice.

Richard Millard, EHDC’s deputy leader, said: “Last year, the Clean for the Queen campaign was a massive success with hundreds of people across the district volunteering to join litter-picks in their own towns and villages.

“We are delighted to be supporting the Great British Spring Clean and we encourage as many groups, individuals and organisations as possible to take part.”

Residents can register their own litter picks by February 18 by visiting easthants.gov.uk/greatbritishspringclean.

The campaign is being backed by key anti-litter charities including Keep Britain Tidy, the Women’s Institute, the National Trust and the RSPCA, as well as a range of businesses.

Litter remains a huge problem across the country, causing harm to the environment and wildlife, with councils in England having to spend more than £700m on street-cleaning services every year.