GROUPS and individuals across the Keighley district are being urged to do their bit to help clean up the environment.

Charity Keep Britain Tidy has issued a 'call to arms' ahead of its annual Great British Spring Clean.

And with the organisation this year celebrating its 70th anniversary, it hopes more people than ever will support the initiative.

Last year, around 350,000 volunteers took part – together collecting over 400,000 bagfuls of litter.

Streets and parks were amongst public spaces targeted.

People are being asked to make a #PlatinumPledge to pick up as much litter as possible during this year's campaign, which runs from Friday, March 15, until the end of the month.

Running in parallel with the venture is the Great Big School Clean, in which pupils learn about the impact litter has on wildlife and the difference small actions can make.

Allison Ogden-Newton, for Keep Britain Tidy, says: "Every year we are blown away by the incredible work done by communities, schools, voluntary organisations, businesses and local authorities to support the Great British Spring Clean.

"Our collective efforts remove thousands of tonnes of litter from our environment and send the message to those who persist in thoughtlessly polluting it that littering is not socially acceptable and has to stop, for the sake of all the places we call home.

"Seventy years ago it was recognised that our beautiful country was becoming littered. Fast forward to 2024 and the problem is still with us, fuelled by lifestyle changes and ever-increasing consumption-on-the-go.

"Much of the litter that volunteers collect is made up of plastic and glass bottles and aluminium cans.

"We know that we could tackle the problem of drinks-related litter very effectively with a deposit return scheme – something we are waiting to see introduced in this country as it has been around the world in countries including Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Romania, Australia and the United States.

"Until this happens, we are asking people across the Keighley district to help us remove as many of these bottles and cans as possible from the environment."

The Great British Spring Clean is backed by a number of organisations – including headline partner the Calisen Group and the People’s Postcode Lottery, whose players have raised more than £4.7 million for Keep Britain Tidy across the years.

For further information about the campaign and to make a pledge, go to keepbritaintidy.org