DEDICATED volunteers are celebrating a landmark milestone in their battle to keep Guiseley litter-free.

A group was set up 17 years ago to tackle the problem of rubbish - and now Litter Free Guiseley has collected its 10,000th bag. Since its inception it has grown to more than 30 members and routinely has up to ten volunteers out litter-picking on Sundays.

It has also been the catalyst for groups across Leeds. During the pandemic members are working individually or in family groups.

Co-ordinator Jeff Yates said: “Seventeen years ago we picked ten bags a month; today we pick in excess of 100 bags each month. So littering behaviour remains a huge issue in everyday life and offends many people.

“We pick paths and pavements, parks and playing fields, woodlands and verges.We cover all areas from Nunroyd Park to Menston Park and Otley Chevin to Hollins Hill. It’s hard work, but immensely satisfying to put something back into the community.

“As we reach the milestone of 10,000 bags, I’d like to express how incredibly proud I am of the people who make up this brilliant local group and thank all the local sponsors who enable is to buy new equipment.

“We loan out our litter-picking kit to groups who wish to tackle local hotspots and we regularly engage with families who may have children wishing to achieve a Duke Of Edinburgh Award. We are always happy to recruit new members.

“Finally, I would hope people don’t take us for granted and maybe consider, just for a moment, what Guiseley might look like were 10,000 bags of rubbish deposited back onto it’s streets and open spaces.”

Member Peter Corry said the group began in 2003, with volunteers from Guiseley in Bloom involved in the early stages. It has its own Facebook page - The Litter Free Guiseley Campaign.

He added: “Jeff has been the constant presence since the start. It remained fairly small until the past five years. As we had more people out on the streets, often wearing our high vis jackets with the logo, people began to notice us more, and numbers gradually increased.”

He added: “Leeds Council has encouraged more local groups like us, and there must be more than 20 in Leeds now, under the umbrella of the Litter Free Leeds Facebook group.”