More than one-and-a-half tonnes of rubbish and 50 bags of litter were collected during a successful community clean-up in Seaham.
Durham County Council, joined by various organisations and volunteers, organised the event to ‘clean up and green up’ areas of the town last week.
It came after local county councillor Kevin Shaw highlighted the condition of a popular walkway, which was strewn with litter.
Historically, the walkway, which stretches from Cold Hesledon, Parkside and Dawdon to Seaham Harbour, has suffered from flytipping, littering, dog fouling and graffiti.
Volunteers, including Cllr Shaw, Seaham Town Council, Durham Constabulary, East Durham Homes, the local branches of Asda and McDonalds, and Durham Heritage Coast, along with the county council, took part in a mass litter pick covering nearly the entire length of the walkway on Tuesday 17 November.
Flytipped rubbish was also removed by specialist Clean and Green teams from the county council following help from the Probation Service earlier in the month to clear rubbish from the top of the walkway.
Durham Heritage Coast and volunteers from Lloyds Bank also carried out a litter pick at Red Acre Beach, meaning, in total, more than one-and-a-half tonnes of waste and over 50 bags of rubbish were collected.
Cllr Shaw said: “It was really pleasing to see so many people roll up their sleeves and help tackle the long-standing issues with rubbish being dumped in our town.
“I am extremely grateful to all those who took part and I hope our efforts go some way to changing attitudes among the small minority who fail to take pride in their environment.”
Ian Hoult, Durham County Council’s neighbourhood protection manager, said: “Environmental crimes are serious and our aim in the first instance is always to educate people about the consequences they can have. However, when the message doesn’t get through we will take action against anyone caught committing these types of offences.”
Any groups wishing to help improve their local environment can contact the council’s Civic Pride team at civicpride@durham.gov.uk or by calling 03000 261 000. Environmental crimes, including flytipping, litter, graffiti and dog fouling, can be reported at www.durham.gov.uk or by calling 03000 261 000.
