RESIDENTS of Atherton are being asked to go to war on litter.

The Cleaner Greener Campaign is appealing for local residents to identify notorious 'grot spots' in their local area which they would like to see cleaned up.

Atherton Litter Free Steering Group are funding the project, which aims to give much needed makeovers to eyesores, especially on major routes.

However, the campaign is more than a mere tidy-up. Landscape gardening teams will work in conjunction with street cleaners to transform blighted spots and in May and June, a panel of judges will decide which renovation project has been the most successful in environmental redesign.

The Atherton Litter Free Steering Group was started over a year ago and has been adopting a variety of anti-litter strategies in its push to clean up the region, including distributing litter signs bearing the slogan "Rubbish Is Rubbish" and involving schoolchildren from St Phillips Primary School, Atherton, in litter picking.

After June, the group's next project is to target businesses to encourage them to keep their shopfront areas clean and tidy, offering free sweeping brushes and hanging baskets.

Any residents who wish to request a clean up can contact the Atherton Township Team on 01942 776160, or alternatively Howe Bridge residents can contact the Bridgers on 01942 894350.