WORSHIPPERS in Little Lever enjoyed a Palm Sunday walk with a difference.

Instead of the traditional walk of witness, churchgoers young and old carried out a litter pick as they walked through the village.

Following the morning services in Little Lever churches, about 50 volunteers, aged five to 85, spruced up the streets.

The Churches Together initiative was organised with Bolton Council, who provided all the litter picking equipment and protective clothing, as part of their Love Bolton, Hate Litter campaign.

The litter pickers were escorted by local PCSOs Maurice Pennington and Claire Lindop, who had designed the route from Mytham Road to Lever Gardens.

At Lever Gardens, volunteers from the residential home provided litter pickers with drinks and biscuits following their hard work.

The team collected more than 50 bags of rubbish during the afternoon’s litter pick.

Rev Philip Brooks from Christ Church, Little Lever, said: “We were delighted with the response. Easter Week is the most important time of the year for the churches.

“The Palm Sunday litter pick emphasised our commitment as people of faith to serve the local community.

“It is particularly relevant now as cuts to council funding mean that the council is not able to keep the streets as tidy as they once could.

“All our volunteers thoroughly enjoyed taking part.”