The streets of Whitehaven are just a little bit cleaner thanks to one man’s furlough!

Tony Johnston, 56, is a delivery driver for a furniture shop.

Since he was furloughed in January, he has had more time to walk the the streets around his Coach Road home ­— and more time to see how much litter is thrown down.

“I was born and bred in Whitehaven and I love this town,” he said.

And that love has led to his one-man mission to clear up at least his part of that town.

He has been nominated as person of the week by his son, Luke, who said: “He has been on furlough for a while now, but not just sitting around ­— he has been out and about in the local area collecting dozens of bags of rubbish, cutting back overgrown trees, and scraping paths to make it safer and easier for people on the estate.”

Tony said: “ It has just become part of the my daily exercise. I don’t want to put anyone out of work, but when I see the amount of rubbish building up I feel I have to do something.”

He said he gets really angry at people’s carelessness and their lack of respect for their area.

“There are tins and bottles everywhere. And dog poo bags. It is great that they pick up the poo, but then they just toss the bags away.

“I collect about three bags of rubbish a week.”

As well as that, he is clearing paths to make them safe for people to walk on and has even cut back some overhanging trees that could have been a danger.

His work has not gone unnoticed.

He has received several comments on the Corkickle Residents Group Facebook page.

There has even been a suggestion that is residents on the estate paid £2.50 each, they could hire Mr Johnston to clear the rubbish regularly.

But that is not something Mr Johnston is considering.

“This clean-up is part of my daily walk.”

When he is not walking and cleaning other people’s mess, Mr Johnston is a keen follower of Whitehaven Rugby League.

“I’ve followed them all my life. I hold a season ticket and never miss the home games,” he said.

His son, Luke, is chairman and director of Whitehaven football club, “but my dad still supports me in everything I do!”