THE group behind the Keep Britain Tidy campaign says councils nationwide aren't doing enough to combat litter but in Abbey Meads people power is taking over.

Residents got up early to give their neighbourhood a belated spring clean.

About 30 people from the community association and Christ the Servant Church congregated in Elstree Way and swept the roads and greens.

The move came as environmental group ENCAMS backers of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign criticised local authorities for not doing enough to combat the menace of litter.

Shelia McNeil, 36, of Stewart Close was one of those who joined the clean up operation.

She said: "Every year we urge the community to come out and do their bit. We just walk around and pick up what has been abandoned on the ground. Even the children joined in enthusiastically."

Everything from beer bottles to clothing catalogues was picked up in Saturday's cleaning session. And last week, some 45 shopping trolleys from the nearby Asda WalMart superstore were recovered after having been found dumped on the estate.