A GROUP of litter pickers cleared years-old rubbish from Kearsley roundabout last week, with some so old that it was embedded into the soil.

Members Farnworth and Kearsley Litter Pickers spent Sunday morning removing 24 bags worth of waste in a socially-distanced litter pick.

The team cleared much of the waste, leaving the small strip of green looking healthier and less crowded.

Sylvia Crossley, a member of the group, said that people throwing litter from cars was primarily responsible for the waste that had gathered.

She said: "With Covid, we have struggled to organise litter picks so we set out to just do what we could and we managed to get all if the three slip roads done.

"The area has never been touched and there are bushes and trees growing there - some rubbish was even under the ground because it had been there that long.

"We managed to collect 24 bags, cut the paths and make it look a lot more neater. It didn't take long at all but it typically doesn't take long wherever we go.

"People in cars are the worst for it. They are are always throwing litter out of their vehicles and people who are out and about don't care when they are walking."

Many of the items from the roundabout were typically bottles, can and other food packaging waste.

However, bottles of urine were found and are a common sight for the litter pickers around the area.

Their resources, including their litter pickers, are provided by the council.

Sylvia added: "We are just trying to improve areas. We really want to encourage people to go out and just pick a few things from around their own street.

"If you start small, you'll notice the difference and people will then decided to tackle bigger things like flytipping."

Bolton Council encourages volunteer litter pickers and provides support in the form of litter picking equipment and green waste bags.

To request litter picking equipment, email the council at loveboltonhatelitter@bolton.gov.uk.