THE Big Spring Clean, now in its tenth year, has spruced up Sandwell with the help of 1,500 local volunteers.

Over 100 places in Cradley Heath, Blackheath, Rowley Regis, Oldbury and elsewhere in the borough have benefited from volunteers litter picking, painting, planting and removing graffiti.

So far this year, volunteer teams have already collected more than 1,300 bags of litter and two tonnes of fly-tipping.

In Codsall Coppice Nature Reserve and the Codsall estate in Cradley Heath volunteers helped clean up grot spots.

Councillor Sue Eaves, lead member for Rowley Regis said: “I was very pleased to join staff from Sandwell Local office at Rowley Regis, Litter Watch, and the police to carry out a community clean up as part of the Big Spring Clean at Cradley Heath.

“We carried out a litter pick on the Codsall Estate including the Codsall Coppice Nature Reserve and had large skips on the estate for residents to utilise and to encourage people to dispose of unwanted rubbish from gardens and help keep the estate tidy.

"We collected 12 bags of litter from the estate.”

The campaign is supported by many organisations including Sandwell Council and Serco.

They have worked closely together over the years to make the campaign a big success.

Councillor David Hosell, Sandwell Council's cabinet member for highways and environment, said: "It amazes me every year how many local people get involved in this campaign.

"It has become a bit of an institution in Sandwell and I would like to thank everybody involved. It demonstrates the level of local pride we have Sandwell."

Jason Holtom, partnership director for Serco, added: "We will continue to support the campaign with people and resources.

"It is great to see the spirit of people working together in the community in this way."

The campaign has two months left and it is not too late to get involved, call 0121 544 3916 or email bigspringclean.sandwell@serco.com.