Supporters of Oxford’s Cleaner, Greener campaign have been thanked for their hard work with a reception at the town hall.

Volunteers were invited to the Lord Mayor’s parlour, where they were welcomed by Lord Mayor of Oxford, Councillor Elise Benjamin, and Councillor John Tanner, board member for Cleaner, Greener Oxford.

There they celebrated the success of the campaign, which was launched in 2009 with the support of the Oxford Mail to tackle litter throughout the city which has seen 700 fixed penalty notices for £80 issued for littering offences.

Environmental enforcement officers, community wardens, parks officers and PCSOs have all handed out on-the-spot fines to litter louts and graffiti vandals. And they all warned the culprits that they faced a possible fine of up to £2,500 at the Magistrates’ Court if they didn’t pay up.

Dozens of people who have given up their time to wage a war on cigarette butts, chewing gum and paper being dropped in the city centre had the chance to reflect on their hard work.

One cleaner greener champion, Dorian Hancock, said: “Some people are very keen on promoting recycling, some of us are more pan-environmentalist.

He said initiatives like the recent clothes swapping and customising event at Oxford Town Hall were just as important as encouraging more of us to separate our rubbish correctly.

“That’s what we’re all about, helping within the various communities within Oxford,” added Mr Hancock.”

The campaign has spruced up the streets of Blackbird Leys, East Oxford and Jericho and has cut down on dog fouling and upped recycling rates.

Cllr Benjamin said: “I wanted to thank the many who have volunteered in the city for this campaign and encourage more residents to get involved in improving Oxford.”

As a result of the work of volunteers Cowley Road and some of its side roads are now mechanically swept or hand swept and litter is picked up off the street each day.

In Blackbird Leys abandoned cars, littering and dog fouling were the campaign’s focus.

And Cllr Tanner said at Monday’s event: “We wanted to say a big thank you to some of the unsung environment heroes who do so much to make Oxford cleaner and greener.

“Without the volunteer litter pickers, recyclers and carbon cutters, our city and our environment would be much the worse.”