UNSUNG hero Joe Clare is a shining example of Boltonians at their best.

While recovering from a stroke he has waged a one-man battle against litter louts for elderly neighbours in his block of sheltered flats.

We found out about the kindhearted 59-year-old after a pensioner wrote an anonymous letter saying Joe is a credit to himself and his family.

And he is just the sort of community champion whose work we hope to celebrate as part of our Pride of Bolton campaign.

When we finally tracked Joe down at his home in Mere Gardens, Halliwell, he admitted he did not feel like a hero. He insists he is just an ordinary guy.

He said: "I don't do anything special. All I do is go out and pick up rubbish when I can.

"I just wish people would have a bit of pride instead of dropping litter. I don't like it when the place looks a mess."

Joe's wife Christine has got used to his round-the-block clean-up operations but fears it will not stop the litter bugs from coming back.

She said: "Bolton used to be a lovely place but people just don't seem to care these days. They leave rubbish everywhere and it's a shame.

"I've told Joe he's fighting a losing battle -- the litter louts will be back. But he still keeps going out to clean up.

"It's nice that somebody has written to the paper about him but we were a bit surprised. It just shows there are still some nice people in the world."

The Bolton Evening News is trying to discover more community champions as part of our Pride of Bolton campaign.

We hope to celebrate some of the good work done by local people at an awards evening later in the year.

Do you have an unsung hero at the end of your street? Call our newsdesk on: 01204 537270.