THE streets of Freshbrook are now a little brighter after a community clean-up at the weekend.

Residents and councillors met up to pick up litter in the area around Elsie Hazel Court near the Freshbrook Shopping Centre.

The area has a long-standing problem with litter because refuse sacks that are awaiting collection are often opened by cats and foxes.

Most of the damage happens overnight, with bin bags awaiting an early morning collection.

Coun Geraldine Robertson (Lib Dem, Freshbrook and Grange Park) joined residents to help with the clean-up.

She said: "A lot of the litter is caused by animals ripping open the refuse sacks but I have been assured by Swindon Services that if residents put their bags into a bin for collection, refuse collectors will still take the bin bags.

"I have been told by residents that if they did put the bags into bins they would have three or four bins outside their house.

"The answer to that is to recycle more."

The clean-up was organised by Jane Dudley, a council officer who works with the Neighbourhood Safety Teams (NEST).

The NESTs were established in 2000 to help reduce fear of crime in the community.

They are currently operating in seven locations and each one is made up of councillors and officers, representatives of the emergency services and volunteers.

Fire safety officer, Ian Jeary, said: "I am a member of the Freshbrook NEST so this is a bit of community involvement for the fire brigade.

"We are concerned with the community and the less litter there is, the less chance there is for it to be set alight.

"It's all part and parcel of keeping the community safe."