THEY have already been christened the 'Angels of St Clement's' after flying in to boost the OxClean campaign.

And the name is well deserved. For Melissa Perot, Iris Bars and Marie Power have joined forces to clean up Angel and Greyhound Meadow, Oxford.

The meadow, located opposite Magdalen College, on the River Cherwell, may occupy a lovely site, but it has been looking anything but beautiful of late.

Melissa, who returned to Oxford after living in the United States, decided the low-lying park certainly deserved to be included in the first Oxford spring clean, which will be taking place on March 14, 15 and 16.

In recent weeks we have been highlighting various schools and local organisations that have been volunteering to take part in OxClean by nominating an area in need of a clean-up.

But Melissa, a retired occupational therapist, of Boulter Street, simply decided she had to do something herself after being appalled at the state of the meadow at the end of her road.

She contacted the Oxford Civic Society, which is running OxClean (an event sponsored by The Oxford Times).

They put her in touch with Iris and Marie, two other women living in the area who wanted to take part.

The trio are now working with the Mish, a pioneering youth venue in St Clement's, which will be providing volunteers anxious to be on the side of "the angels".

Melissa said: "What was so shocking was coming back to Oxford and seeing what is a showpiece of England looking so appalling, with so much litter in what is a glorious city.

"Of course there are run-down areas in America. But certainly not areas that cities want to show off to tourists.

"The council does its job, but people have become desensitised to the mess and irresponsible about creating it.

"The other night at the bus stop, I bravely picked up a cigarette butt that a young man had just dropped and put out with his foot and handed it back to him, saying, 'I think you dropped this'.

"Surprised, he took it, swore at me, dropped it again and kicked it into the gutter."

OxClean organisers are urging residents' associations, youth groups, colleges, restaurants, pubs and individuals to join a two-hour litter pick over the Oxclean spring clean weekend.

Each should nominate a local street park, playground, industrial estate, town square or public open space.

As well as selecting a site, each group will be responsible for recruiting volunteers and organising the collection of litter and some of the equipment that may be needed, such as protective gloves.

Anyone wishing to take part or express an interest should visit oxclean.oxfordcivicsoc.org.uk, email oxclean@oxfordcivicsoc.org.uk, or write to OxClean Spring Clean 2008, 67 Cunliffe Close, Oxford, OX2 7BJ.