MORE than 2,000 people will take to Oxford’s streets, parks and public spaces this weekend as part of the city’s fourth annual spring clean.

Around 118 community groups are involved in this year’s litter picking project including residents’ associations, churches and schools.

Last time out residents collected 10,000kg of rubbish including large quantities of scrap metal and dumped waste.

Yesterday Oxford United Football Club stars joined children at St Gregory the Great School, in East Oxford, to launch OxClean’s Spring Clean 2011.

Year Eight student Graham Mogridge had a clear message for city residents.

He said: “If you see litter just pick it up because it will end up damaging the environment, hurting other people or animals.

“Pick it up and you are helping others.”

United player Steve MacLean said the clean-up was a great initiative for the city.

The striker added: “I have kids myself and when you go to the park you don’t want litter there.

“It is great to clean it up and do the right thing.”

The spring clean is supported by Oxford City Council and Oxford Civic Society.

Groups across the city will spend two hours clearing their neighbourhoods and Oxford City Council will pick up the all the rubbish collected.

The campaign group has also launched a “Don’t drop it” campaign aimed at tackling the root cause of litter problems. Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson OBE, pictured below, who also spoke at the launch, said changing attitudes was the key to long-term success.

He said: “People just don’t think. They drop it and walk away.

“It is about getting people to hesitate.”

OxClean’s Ros Weatherall added: “The big challenge is stopping people dropping it.

“Millions visit the city each year and some people think it is a bit untidy. We want people to take pride in their city.”

Litter is a big issue in Oxford and costs the city council around £1m a year.

The council’s streetscene manger Geoff Corps said the Spring Clean was a great event because it covered both public and private land.

He added: “This gets to the places we find it difficult to reach at the frequency we would want to.

“It really is what it says, a spring clean.”

  • Clean up events include:

    Friday

  • Friends of Aston’s Eyot, Aston’s Eyot, Jackdaw Lane, East Oxford, 10am.
  • Oxford & Cherwell Valley College, Oxpens Rd and immediate area, midday.
  • Risinghurst & Sandhills Parish Council, Risinghurst and Sandhills area, 1.30pm.
  • SS Mary & John Church, Churchyard, Bartlemas Close, Barracks Lane, 11.30am.
  • Oxford Spires School, Marsh Park, Barracks Lane.
  • St Nicholas Primary School, Mortimer Hall Rec, underpass and Marston Ferry, 11am.

Saturday

  • Rose Hill Tenants’ & Residents’ Association, Rose Hill starting at the Oval, 11am.
  • Barton Community Association, Barton Estate, midday.
  • Divinity Road Area Residents’ Association, Divinity, Hilltop Road and Southfield Road, 10am.
  • Friends of Quarry, streets and alleys of Headington Quarry, 2pm.
  • Oxford Brookes Students, Gypsy Lane, 11am.
  • Oxford Civic Society, Barracks Lane and path, 10am.
  • Oxford Hub Community (OU), Bulwark Lane, Hythe Bridge, canal path, 10am.

Truck Festival, assorted “grot spots” in OX4, 11am.

  • Central Oxford Mosque Society, immediate area and Manzil Way, 1pm For more information visit oxclean.org.uk