A WOMAN who lives on Woodhouse Road has taken it upon herself to clean the roads, verges and paths in which she lives.

Gaile Stevens started back in March by herself but has now created the litter picking group, The Whitehaven Womblers, in the hopes of enlisting more members to help her town and the region grapple with the litter crisis happening in the Copeland area.

Gaile said: “I’ve been shocked as to how much litter there is on a daily basis appearing up and down the street. Mike Hawkins one of our town councillors organised a litter pick awhile back, and it inspired many of us to continue."

She added: “Copeland doesn’t have the manpower to pick up the litter dropped all over the borough but we can make a start to change all that.”

Part of the remit of the Womblers is to get an education program in place to work with schools and parents that will aim to give the issue greater clarity.

Gaile has gained three more people to her litter picking cause and has gotten private sponsorship from a local company, she said: “I’ve spoken to Aldi, Asda and Tesco as well and they’re all on board to give us bags or anything else we might particularly need for bigger events.”

Gaile has noticed a difference between littering in the country compared to Japan where she worked as an English Teacher for a year.

She said: “Litter is something that in Japan you never see. It’s because they have respect for the communities in which they live. They don’t think about dropping litter – it doesn’t occur to them and if it does someone will pick it up on their way.”

The 58-year-old aims to support the work of the Borough Council Street Teams by getting to those hard-to-reach spots that build up over time of neglect.

With the verbal backing of Whitehaven Town Council, Gaile and her volunteers have been asked to provide litter wardens for two events in the town so far.

The International Markets that took place on Friday May 28 and the next event on June 25.

Both market days are held at the St Nicholas Gardens and are a great opportunity for friends and family to get together, in a clean space for some much-needed retail therapy. The Whitehaven Womblers will be there keeping everywhere tidy.

They are currently on the lookout for more volunteers to join their good cause, providing Hi-Viz jackets, litter pickers and bags and would be delighted to welcome people to the group. Gaile said: “It is very satisfying when all the litter is gone!”

To join or get in touch with the Whitehaven Womblers phone Gaile Stevens on: 07928041813.