TYRES, clothing and a dog’s cage were just a few of the items cleaned up off the streets of Bolton yesterday.

The Litter Pickers of North Bolton group took to the Astley Street and Wolfenden Street area, Halliwell, to pick up 101 bags of rubbish within two hours.

The group organises litter picks every Sunday morning and has up to 20 volunteers clearing the streets throughout the week.

Eileen McKay Crowe, co-founder of the group, said about 25 volunteers showed up yesterday.

She said: “We’re really pleased with the number of people who gave up their Sunday morning to pick up litter. It’s a huge problem in Bolton and it’s encouraging to see so many people concerned about the issue. We have a Facebook page for our group and have seen member numbers grow so much since we launched.”

The Bolton News reported last week that Cllr Paul Wild said there has been a ‘definite increase’ in the amount of fly-tipping as a result of the introduction of new slim bins. A council spokesman denied slim bins having any link with the increase in fly-tipping.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Warren Fox, who helped organise the litter pick, said: “The council can no longer bury its head in the sand and say we do not have an issue with litter and fly-tipping in Bolton. The issue is so out of hand that people have no idea how and where to start to tackle it. We need a bold approach to this and we must exhaust every option, we have to invest money in a solution now.

“Litter-picking groups are doing as much as they possibly can, but it is getting to the point that it is defeating them.

“I am thoroughly aggravated that I go out collecting litter every Sunday morning with the Litter Pickers of North Bolton.

“Hearing that it isn’t a problem infuriates me. When we’re collecting 101 bags of litter in two hours to say it isn’t an issue, is frankly lying.

“It’s so encouraging seeing so many people desperate to keep their local community clean.”

To find out more about the Litter Pickers of North Bolton, visit facebook.com/litterpickersEgerton