THE Helensburgh community group behind a week-long community litter-picking campaign have urged members of the public to get behind the initiative.

Plastic Free Helensburgh’s 'Keep Helensburgh Clean' campaign gets under way this Saturday, August 22, and runs until August 29.

The group is encouraging Burgh residents to take time during the week to go out with gloves and a binbag and get the town looking tidy.

No mass litter picks are planned during the week, because of the ban on large gatherings due to Covid-19, but Kate Williams from Plastic Free Helensburgh says the group is hoping that if enough people get behind the campaign it will encourage other people to be more careful about what they do with their rubbish.

READ MORE: Plea for action to tackle the scourge of Helensburgh seafront litter

And the group has received a boost prior to the start of the initiative after they received the endorsement of the town's MSP.

“We are seeing an increase in litter across the town, especially of single use PPE such as gloves and fascemasks,” Kate told the Advertiser.

“We want to raise awareness of the litter problem and encourage locals to safely pick up and dispose of the litter in their local area or on their daily commute to work or school.

“You will need some gloves and a bag, that’s all!

READ MORE: 'Tidal wave' of rubbish blighting Loch Lomond, says litter prevention manager

“If we can all be active in the fight against this, it will encourage others to think twice next time.

“If there’s a problem that needs fixing, you are the person to do something about it! Don’t just complain about the issue and move on, we need to do something.

“We all love Helensburgh and a cleaner town is better for our own health and mental wellbeing.

“As we can’t meet up in big groups just yet we want you and your friends to do something good together. Trust us, you will feel so good afterwards too.”

READ MORE: Helensburgh group shares its vision of a 'plastic free' town with the Advertiser

The Helensburgh and Lomond area’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, said: “I commend Plastic Free Helensburgh on their plans for a community clean up starting this weekend.

“It’s great to see local people taking pride in their local environment and working together to help keep it clean.”

Plastic Free Helensburgh wants you to share your pictures from the week of the work you and your family are doing to keep the town clean.

You can email pictures to plasticfreehelensburgh@gmail.com – and you can copy us in too by emailing editorial@helensburghadvertiser.co.uk.

You can also share photos to the ‘Plastic Free Helensburgh - Community’ Facebook page.

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