EAGLE-EYED council officers were out in force in Cowley yesterday to launch an initiative aimed at clearing up the area.

Oxford City Council has extended its Cleaner, Greener Oxford campaign to the area, and officers set up shop outside the Nelson pub, Between Towns Road, to talk to residents about how to keep the area cleaner.

They will be cracking down on people dropping litter, chewing gum and cigarette ends, as well as dog fouling, and encouraging more recycling.

Among those talking to the team yesterday was Lorna Ikin, 65, who is currently staying with her mother in Hockmore Tower.

She welcomed the initiative.

Mrs Ikin said: “The mess and the litter, especially behind the shops, is terrible.

“I am very pleased to hear that the city council is at least going to try to do something about it.

“I regularly walk my dog and notice all the cigarette ends and chewing gum stuck to the pavement.”

She said she did not think dog fouling was as big a problem in the area as the other issues.