A GROUP of environmentally aware students have vowed to turn a one-off litter pick into a regular event following the success of a clean-up in Pembroke.

Members of Pembroke School Council took part in a three-and-a-half hour litter pick around the path adjacent to the town’s castle after being made aware of a build-up of litter by a concerned rambler.

School Governor Brian Pratt also provided photographic evidence of the problem after National Trust volunteers sent him a picture of a litter pick they undertook, that highlighted the issue of litter in the vicinity.

After showing it to school council they decided to take action and asked Keep Wales Tidy and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park for assistance.

Made up of pupils from years seven to 10, the students soon got to work.

Keep Wales Tidy, provided bags and litter pickers while the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park disposed of the collected bags at Waterloo Civic Amenity and Recycling Centre.

“The amount of litter collected was incredible,” said School Council Co-coordinator Rachel Edwards.

“The students really took to it and competed among themselves to see who could collect the most and didn’t really want to stop.

“We filled 12 bin bags in total and after seeing the difference they made, the school council have decided to make it a termly event and will focus on different areas within the locality to make sure they stay litter free.”

Meanwhile, Pembrokeshire County Council will assist community groups wishing to arrange litter picks in their area by providing the equipment needed to do so.

For planned, regular events, groups will be allowed to keep the equipment.

For more information contact Pembrokeshire County Council Environmental Project Officer Katie Daly on 01437 775945 or e-mail: katie.daly@pembrokeshire.gov.uk.