SPICK and span pensioner Harry Beckett sets a fine example keeping the streets round his sheltered housing litter free.

And his efforts have earned him a prestigious award for voluntary service from the Tidy Britain Group.

Harry, 69, has lived at Burnley Council's Gerald Court for five years and it was the sheltered housing scheme's warden Ann Smith who nominated him for the award.

She said: "I read an article about the Silver Broom Awards to reward street cleaners and I thought of Harry. "Living in the Burnley Wood area we are all conscious about litter but Harry does a wonderful job. He really does care about where he lives and picks up any rubbish he sees - he has collected pram wheels, petrol cans and beer cans."

Harry said: "When I used to live on Melrose Avenue, Burnley, I used to do the same thing and I was always collecting any rubbish that was left in the streets and putting it in the bin.

"It is a pity that people don't think twice before dropping litter then no-one would have to pick it up afterwards."

Former textile and catering worker Harry said he wasn't surprised by winning the award because cleaning up rubbish is something he has always done and when he lived in Melrose he used to get thanked by the local councillors.

Ann added: "I hope people will follow the example of Harry because it doesn't take much to keep the area clean."

A special presentation was made today at Blackburn Rovers International Suite 2 at Ewood Park, Blackburn. Unfortunately Harry was too poorly to attend.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.