Big clean up

More than 250 mums, dads and children from Wood Farm turned out to transform a scruffy corner of city-council owned land by Long Close during a day-long clean-up operation.

The project, called the Big Clean Up, was a joint venture between the Community Service Volunteers, the UK's largest volunteering organisation, and ITV.

Yesterday was ITV's Big Clean-Up Day, and all the company's stations in England and Wales linked up as part of the United Nations' Clean Up the World weekend.

Mark Rooney, assistant project manager for the CSV, praised residents for their commitment to helping the project.

He said: "We're very pleased with the amount of people who have turned out today.

"They were of all ages and the first appeared at around 5am.

"We're proud of all of them."

Pete Bonney and his wife, Carol, who chair the local tenants and residents group also praised the local spirit.

Mr Bonney said: "Whole families have turned out and there has been a definite sense of community over this project."

Sam Parry, the CSV's assistant development officer, admitted: "We had a few hiccups with the weather, but it's been fantastic and everyone has been keen to get stuck in."

Vanessa Baffoe, the CSV organiser for the project, said: "It's been a big community thing, and the youngest we had here was just eight months old.

"Kids came from all over the Wood Farm area and many of them belonged to the local Paradise Crew youth group.

"It's been a better turnout than we expected and I'm sure they will will now be keen to do more of these kind of things."

Paul-John Saunders, 14, a pupil of Peers School, in Littlemore, admitted he had enjoyed his day out doing work for the community.

He said: "It's been hard work, but it's better than just shopping or sitting around.

"It makes the whole area look a whole lot better."

Also helping out was Jamie Taylor, 12, who said: "I've spent the day digging and shovelling - it's been hard work but it's been fun."