A STUDENT who recently completed a work experience placement in Torfaen Council's environmental health team has organised a litter pick at a notorious grot-spot.

Volunteers were organised by student Charlotte Richards, and together they cleared litter and fly-tipping from lanes and footpaths at the Race in Pontypool.

The local litter champions joined forces with Torfaen council, Keep Wales Tidy and Gwent Police for the clear up.

They collected 65 bags of rubbish and removed items including mattresses and TVs.

Councillor Fiona Cross, executive member for the environment, said: "I would like to thank everyone who gave their time to take part in this clear up.

"Litter and fly-tipping is a blight on our society.

"Fly-tipping alone costs us about £150,000 every year at a time when frontline services are being stretched to breaking point.

“Most of the rubbish and fly-tipping collected today could have been recycled so there really is no excuse for people to blight our communities in this way."

We want to feature every litter picking hero and volunteer group that we can.

As well as your stories, we want your pictures and videos too. If you would like to be featured, or if you want to send us some pictures of problem areas that deserve attention, get in touch by emailing sam.ferguson@gwent-wales.co.uk . You can also join our dedicated Facebook group – South Wales Argus: War on Litter.