Members of the community turned out in force to help give Jurby village a spring clean at the weekend.

Organised by the Jurby and Northern Community Initiatives charity, the big Jurby clean-up saw families and children who live around the Jurby area join up with volunteers from Talbot Blinds and Beach Buddies to clear the hedgerows, pavements and open green areas, along with a stretch of the Sartfield coastline, of junk and rubbish.

Among the items found were discarded toys, such as a space hopper and a ride-on train, a stack of tyres, a microwave, bags of discarded industrial and plastic waste and a hand painted sign with ’Jurby Junk’ painted across it.

More than 75 people took part, and Beach Buddies organiser Bill Dale guessed that they had collected between two thirds and three quarters of a ton of rubbish.

This is the third time the Jurby spring clean has taken place and Bill believes the idea is starting to spread a positive message across Jurby.

’The best bit is the fact that the turnout is bigger than last year, which means more people are getting on to the idea of helping to keep their own communities tidy,’ said Bill.

’We actually thought it would be easier than last year, as we had shifted so much rubbish then.

’But in reality the rubbish situation this year has turned out to be, if not as bad, then even worse.

’Some of the rubbish has unfortunately been dumped over the last year, which is a shame, but some of it is historic.

’We found a crisp packet dating back to 2012. That sort of stuff is just lying hidden in hedges.

’But I think that the people of Jurby are really getting the message about litter, and are starting to dig a bit deeper to find the rubbish.

’That means that what we have done today is a really fantastic, thorough clean up, and what you will now end up with, long-term, is that the people who have helped today will now be encouraged to work to keep on top of it.’

Bill later presented Angela Quaggin, the centre coordinator from Jurby and Northern Community Initiatives, with a box of litter pickers.

Angela thanked Bill for his help and support, and also the volunteers from Talbot Blinds, who not only supplied manpower for the clean-up efforts, but also brought along a large number of cakes for the post-clean celebrations.