COMMUNITY-MINDED youngsters from Greenfields showed that they have the interests of Winsford at heart by giving up their free time to clean up their neighbourhood.

Greenfield Residents' Association helped organise a group of volunteers to tidy up on Monday, after a spate of vandalism ruined a conservation area behind the shops on Finsbury Walk.

Thieves stole plants and left the area looking a mess, but their undesirable activities served only to spur on the youngsters and the residents' association to leave the area looking better than before.

More than 45 young people donned protective clothing and spruced up litter hotspots, the second time a successful clean up day has been organised.

Not content with just looking after their own backyard, the hit squad was sent onto Winsford Industrial Estate to assist environmental regeneration charity Groundwork with a clean up there.

Jayne Biddle, the residents' association chairman, met up with Mike Kelly from Groundwork on the estate along with volunteers, Katie Furmedge, Jonathon Taylor, Amanda Kirton, Sam McGee, Hannah Hooper and Matthew Thelwell.

A spokesman for the residents' association said: "The youngsters slogged their guts out all afternoon to sort the problem out.

"They wanted to do it, it was not up to us to round them up, and they have even decided to do it every two weeks now."

Mike Kelly said: "I was impressed with the effort and we are extremely grateful. I have always admired the hard work and resourcefulness of Winsford's youth.

"On behalf of Groundwork and the businesses on the estate I would like to thank these special young people and the residents' association, without whose support this clean up would not have taken place."

Anyone who would like to help out with future clean-ups should contact Jayne at 19 Portman Place in Greenfields.

rfraser@guardiangrp.co.uk