SPRING cleaning has started with volunteers mucking in at St John’s and at St Botolph’s Priory in Colchester.

More than eight kilos of rubbish was collected, 20 street signs were replaced or repaired and graves were washed down in the St John’s area.

A new litter bin was installed on the pathway between St Lawrence Road and the St Christopher Road shops.

Volunteers were joined by a team of council zone wardens.

Paul Smith, ward councillor, said: “We would like to thank St John’s Church for its help on the day. It provided a room at its community centre for the volunteers to be based.

“We can really see the difference where they have been and cleared up and I would urge everyone to keep it that way.”

Dave Harris, ward councillor for Berechurch, organised the clear up at St Botolph’s as part of his role in the Friends of the Priory group.

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New bulbs were planted, the war memorial cleaned and the area made more attractive.

The group, which is an offshoot of Colchester in Bloom, focuses on maintaining the St Botolph’s “jewel in the Colchester crown”.

Staff and adults with learning disabilities who are on work experience of Colchester’s Level Best Art Cafe, also volunteered their time to help.

Volunteer Sheila Anderton said: “Next to the Castle and the Roman Wall, this is the most important historic monument we have and we want to make it better.”

Mr Harris added: “We cleaned up the war memorial with special permission from Colchester Council, using soap and warm water and we will keep doing that regularly.

“Signs were cleaned and leaves cleared away for composting. It was brilliant. We picked up about ten bags of litter as well.”