A group of litter pickers have taken on the task of cleaning up their neighbourhood streets.

Karin Grandal-Park and friend Michele Grimshaw began litter picking in Brierfield in March and after posting the results of their first outing on social media, they asked for others to join them.

The following week, seven people turned up to help the pair, with more volunteers joining the cause weekly.

Karin said: “We want to change how Brierfield is perceived by others outside our community, as well as make it a more pleasant place to live.

“To do this we have to change the mindset that exists within our community.

“Change to this mindset of ‘nobody else cares, so why should I?’ has to be the foundation that we build from.

“We have made a start and we are already seeing results.”

Now the group has 23 volunteers, with an average of 12 people volunteering each week, which has resulted in Karin forming the Building A Better Brierfield group.

As the group continues to grow, Karin hopes to apply for grants for a range of projects in Brierfield such as enhancing neglected areas, tree planting, art and leisure installations, education projects and supporting individuals and businesses to enhance the look of their properties.

They have been donated high visibility tabards from Elliot Rushton who owns CCTV North West, while the Brierfield Liberal Club has donated money so they can buy extra equipment.

Pendle councillor for Brierfield West and Reedley, Mohammad Hanif, has been volunteering with the group. He said: “What we are doing is absolutely essential.

“Brierfield is a family. I’ve lived here for over 55 years. This is my town and my family, if we don’t look after our house, who will?

“Over the three months we have been going, people are noticing what is being done.

“As well as the group, individual people are now litter picking on their own streets.

“Slowly but surely, we are making our town better.”