Schoolchildren and city council officers joined forces for a big tidy-up in East Oxford in an event which also raised money for charity.

Twins Emily and Megan Hart, 13, organised a litter-pick and clearing up of Barracks Lane and the surrounding area.

And they collected enough rubbish to fill 10 big bin bags.

The twins, who live in Wheatley, managed to rope in an army of followers to help with the clean-up.

Another of their aims was to raise public awareness of breast cancer after their grandmother was diagnosed with the disease earlier this year.

The three-hour tidy-up also collected enough reyclable material to fill one large blue wheelie bin.

The event was one of 26 clean-ups taking place across the city this month as part of Keep Britain Tidy's Big Tidy-Up campaign.

Litter-pickers were joined by city councillors Bob Timbs and Lord Mayor Susanna Pressel as well as their father, who is employed by the council's City Works department.

Megan, from Wheatley, said: "Our gran had breast cancer earlier this year, so we wanted to raise awareness of that and raise money for charity.

"We wanted to do the reputation of young people some good too because you always hear about young people doing bad things."

Emily said: "We think the residents of Barracks Lane will be pretty pleased with the clean-up."

Ms Pressel said: "It's such a lovely thing to do to be thinking about others and to tidy up the local area.

"I'm delighted to support anything about this initiative of clearing up litter."

The Lord Mayor, who won her own battle against breast cancer three years ago, added: "I'm particularly keen to support events which raise money and awareness of breast cancer — it's a cause very close to my heart."

"I'm glad these girls managed to rope so many of their friends into it. It was great fun."

The tidy-up raised about £100 for breast cancer charities.

  • To get support and equipment for your own big tidy-up, call 01295 221916 or see www.oxfordshirewaste.co.uk