BURTON residents took advantage of the brief respite from snow and flooding to give the village an early spring clean.

The group of ten villagers targeted ditches and hedges along roadsides and the pedestrian route to the school, filling 18 bin bags over two hours with rubbish including bottles and cans, food packaging, car parts and an old gas barbecue.

Colin Jamieson, county and borough councillor for Burton, said recent flooding in the village had shown the importance of keeping ditches free from rubbish, which if washed into drains can cause a blockage.

Homes in Salisbury Road came within a few inches of being flooded after water overflowed from drains just before Christmas.

“The reason we do a clear-up at this time of year is because the ditches aren’t overgrown and you can see what’s in there.

“It is amazing how much rubbish collects in them,” he said.

“It isn’t just a question of making the village look pretty, the water washes the litter into the gulley drains and they get blocked, so we get floods like those of the past few weeks.”

Cllr Jamieson said he and fellow county councillor David Jones were working to get litter traps installed around the village where ditches connect to drains, which would be maintained by villagers and the parish council.

“It was a great success this morning, and fortunately it was sunny and quite warm, so more enjoyable for the volunteers than it might have been,” he said.

“Of course we shouldn’t have to do this at all, nor is it fair on the taxpayer to expect the council to do the clearing up.

“If people didn’t drop the litter there would be no need, so the majority have to pay for the actions of a few unthinking members of the community.”

The litter pickers, who will give the village another clean towards the beginning of summer, and a third in the autumn, were provided with a van for logistical support by Christchurch firm Twynham Motor Service.

Cllr Jamieson added: “The van is a great help to us, and very much appreciated.

“I have had people tell me they have decided to live in Burton because they saw the litter pickers out when they were house-hunting and appreciated the display of close community spirit.”