RESIDENTS in Pendle have been urged to take more pride in their neighbourhood after only two people took part in a clean-up.

And it is not the first time there has been such a poor turnout for the on-going series of clean-ups across the borough.

The events, organised by the council's Neighbourhood Pride co-ordinator Nasreen Khanam, involve wards across Pendle each week.

Only two people turned up for the operation in the Southfield ward of Nelson this weekend and in Vivary Bridge last weekend only one resident volunteered to help.

Nasreen said she was hoping to educate people about looking after the area where they live but she said there is only so much she can do if no-one is listening to her.

She said: "This weekends clean-up was advertised in newspapers, on the radio and in shops so I can't do better than that. We also did some door knocking to let people know about. It's hard work for me working on Saturdays and it was very disappointing that only two residents turned up.

"I think they just can't be bothered with it. After the last one in Vivary Bridge I asked people why they didn't come and they said they were still asleep or they thought others would go.

"People are throwing things on the floor and they think it's the council's job to clean up after them. I want them to take a little more responsibility and take some pride in the area they are living in."

Nasreen is hoping more people will turn up for this weekend's clean-up in the Walverden ward and in Marsden the following Saturday, between 11am and 2pm.

She said: "I'm going to contact the local schools and see if I can get children involved in them and one of the residents who helped out in Southfield has offered to help me in Walverden. I think I will concentrate on four or five streets so that I know where people are who have said they will help out."