A GROUP of volunteers have made it their mission to tackle the issue of fly-tipping in Bolton as they continue to clean up a local beauty spot.

The Friends of Seven Acres group has been clearing rubbish and fly-tipped waste that has been left in Seven Acres Country Park for the past ten years, motivated by a shared passion for the area.

The volunteer group works closely with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust to organise weekly litter picks on the 86 acre site, which is owned by Bolton Council.

Different numbers of volunteers attend the litter picking sessions each Friday — with many travelling in from outside the borough to help with the efforts.

But the group admit they are fighting an uphill battle, with fly-tipping a growing issue in Bolton.

A Freedom of Information request made by The Bolton News recently revealed that the number of reported incidents of fly-tipping in the borough soared last year to more than 4,000.

Group member, Chris Banks, from Breightmet, said he believes the continued work of the volunteers is essential in the face of a growing litter and fly-tipping problem.

The 32-year-old said: “In my opinion, in the ten years the Friends of Seven Acres have been working with the Lancashire Wildlife Trust, they haven't just made a difference to Seven Acres — they have transformed it.

“The litter is a massive problem for Seven Acres alongside Bury Road, Stephen Street, Waggon Road, Winchester Way and Thicketford Road.

“People seem to have no qualms about throwing their rubbish into the hedges of the park.

“We could spend every Friday with twenty volunteers litter picking and by next week we'd be looking at the same problem.”

Mr Banks believes the only way to stop people from dumping rubbish is with the promise of heavy fines and more prosecutions.

A spokesman for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust paid tribute to the work of the Friends of Seven Acres group.

He said: “They are just a fantastic bunch of people and they have really taken ownership of Seven Acres.

“They are all very vigilant about the country park and without them Seven Acres would simply not be the beautiful place that it is.”

Anyone interested in joining the group is invited to meet with them on any Friday at the Seven Acres site.

For more information contact the Lancashire Wildlife Trust on 01204 663754.