PUBLIC-spirited Russ Candfield is doing his bit to tackle the problem of litter in Monkton Heathfield.

He's personally collected around 20 bags of rubbish left lying around in the past six months.

Most of the discarded items are cans, plastic bottles, wet wipes, cigarette and crisp packets.

He said: "It's a particular bug bear of mine to see so much litter discarded all over the streets, roads and country lanes. The amount of fly tipping is disgusting.

"I have cleared up one particular lane in Monkton Heathfield (Dyers Lane) of all the detritus that is strewn all the way down the lane despite there being a bin along the route."

And he says a recent grass cut near the Merry Monk exposed even more rubbish.

Mr Candfield added: "I have probably collected around 20 bags of rubbish over the last six months since I couldn't help myself but do something positive about it.

"What amazes me is that there are people who take no pride in their surroundings and no responsibility to take their rubbish home.

"And we do need more bins at bus stops because a lot of rubbish is discarded there.

"At least if you had the bins, then people couldn't turn round and say they couldn't find anywhere to discard it.

"On the continent, there are loads of signs reminding people not to throw their rubbish away and to take it home. Perhaps people need reminders like this.

"I was up at Weston-super-Mare last Saturday and a man just finished his lager and placed the can down next to a wooden post thinking that was acceptable. What a great role model to his kids?

"It al starts at home, and if the parents aren't educated, then the children will need to be taught at school."

Mr Candfield said he welcomed the County Gazette/Taunton Deane Borough Council campaign to tackle the litter problem in the district.