KEIGHLEY residents are being encouraged to pick up litter as they take daily exercise around their neighbourhoods.

Regeneration group Big Local has enlisted an army of volunteers to take part in One Hour Tidies during the lockdown.

They have been given litter-picking packs for their solo street cleaning efforts.

This is one of a range of innovative measures introduced by Keighley Big Local to help families and individuals in communities between Ingrow and Stockbridge cope with the effects of lockdown.

The lottery-funded organisation has given Easter eggs to youngsters who designed a superhero to tackle coronavirus, funded and distributed 8,000 Covid-19 advice leaflets, and provided mindfulness colouring books to help older people reduce their anxiety and low moods.

When coronavirus hit, Big Local’s volunteer leaders decided their prime aim should be to keep open the food bank at Hainworth Wood Community Centre.

The food bank has been able to continue delivering food parcels twice a week with support from Morrisons and Wellsprings, plus donations from the Stockbridge Arms fish and chip restaurant and Vijay Stores in Hainworth Wood.

Big Local coordinator Shaun O’Hare said: “It very quickly became apparent that the community centre was an ideal place to base the Big Local response to the COVID plan for Keighley East ward.

“Keighley Big Local Partnership members Eric Yaffey and Helen Parsons and our Play Team have patrolled twice a week. Practical help has included delivering newspapers, providing essential items, buying and reselling milk, and general welfare visits.”

Big Local and Morrisons have also provided Easter eggs for youngsters supported by the council’s Youth Service in Keighley East ward.