A SKIP full of rubbish was collected by volunteers during a litter pick day in Waiblingen Way and surrounding streets in Devizes.

The litter pick day on Saturday was organised by the Waiblingen Way and Community Residents' Group.

Committee member Samantha Wright took part along with several other adults and children.

She said: "It was fantastic and we had a lot of support from residents who saw what we were doing."

The volunteers collected rubbish in Waiblingen Way, Colston Road, The Nursery and Jubilee Road for more than three hours.

Miss Wright said: "We collected sweet wrappers, lots of bottles and cans of alcohol, fizzy drink bottles and cigarette packets and wrappers. We only found one hypodermic needle and you could tell it was an old one.

"We were a bit upset we found one needle but considering the reputation the estate used to have we actually thought that that wasn't bad.

"The rubbish we collected filled a skip and we were all exhausted afterwards."

The residents group was formed in January 2003 to encourage people to take an active role in the area.

It was set up a few months after drugs raids in Waiblingen Way which resulted in numerous arrests and prison terms for some.

Miss Wright who moved in shortly after the drugs raids said: "Residents say there is no comparison to how the area was before the drugs raids happened."