COUNCIL bosses have paid a public tribute to the dozens of kindhearts who give up their time to keep the borough's streets cleaner.

Hundreds of eco-warriors regularly don sturdy gloves and go armed with litter pickers to tackle some of the forgotten corners of Bolton and surrounding areas.

And while some assemble informally, there are several thriving groups in existence across local towns and villages, determined to make a difference to their corner of the world.

Now council chiefs, while also providing the crews with green bags and equipment to collect rubbish before taking away the 'fruits' of their labours, want to officially acknowledge their contribution to the cleanliness of Bolton.

Cllr Nadim Muslim, a member of the executive, said: “I would like to thank those who have given up their time to litter-pick.

"These community efforts make a huge difference and enable us all to enjoy a cleaner, greener borough. We all have a part to play in keeping our parks, open spaces and streets clean and free of litter.

“Litter is an eyesore and damaging to the environment and I would urge all residents to think twice before deciding to leave waste behind or dropping litter.”

The Bolton News has highlighted the work of volunteer litter-picking collectives, from Farnworth and Kearsley, Stoneclough and Ringley, to North Bolton, as well as several which tackle hidden grot spots in and around Bolton town centre. If you’re interested in getting involved in litter picking, you can find out more on the council’s website.