BOURNEMOUTH’S successful team of “street champions” has been expanded in response to popular demand.

The champions – a team of cleaners with barrows – have won many friends amongst local traders, businesses, councillors and residents since their introduction in December 2010.

And now there will be even more of them out and about, with Springbourne the latest area to get its own full-time, dedicated representative.

Each warden has their own patch to patrol and keep clean, tidy and litter free.

They pick up cigarette butts, remove stickers, clean litter bins, sweep shop doorways and remove weeds.

But they are also the council’s eyes and ears and report issues beyond their remit, including broken signs and street lights, graffiti and vandalism.

And they have helped build up links between the council and local traders, organisations and businesses.

The new Springbourne patch runs from Bournemouth railway station along Holdenhurst Road and surrounding streets to Springbourne fire station.

The other existing patches are Westbourne, Charminster, Winton, Southbourne, Pokesdown, Kinson and Boscombe.

Cllr Michael Filer, cabinet member for transport, cleansing and waste, said: “Making Bournemouth safe, clean and enjoyable is a top priority for this council and the railway and bus stations are key gateways to the town.

“Getting this area right is important for those first impressions.

“Our team of Smart Streets’ Champions have proved to be a roaring success which is why I am delighted about expanding to include Springbourne.

“Each area means that residents and businesses have a familiar worker with a barrow responsible for cleaning and maintaining those neighbourhoods and helping to instil civic pride into the area.”