COLCHESTER Council has been handed £33,000 to wage war against litter in the town centre.

The cash has come from the Government as part of a bid to clean up high streets and town centres across the country.

In total £9.7 million has been handed out.

The council said its share of the cash would be spent on a number of projects - some completed and some in the pipeline.

They include:

  • new equipment for the council’s litter warriors
  • high-vis vests and new litter pickers to help youngsters clear rivers, beaches and open spaces during the Great British Spring Clean
  • a new tool store for volunteer groups in Castle Park which will also be accessible to other town centre projects
  • a range of maintenance tools and cleaning materials to support the work of Neat Street volunteers
  • and new protective and other equipment for residents who are volunteers for Colchester Borough Homes

A spokesman for the council said: “All of this funding has now been allocated to support a variety of projects, some of which have already been completed and some which will be delivered over the coming months.

“Altogether, these projects are helping to support local people who care about the environment on their doorstep to make a visible difference to their community and a Better Colchester.”

Braintree Council was awarded £26,589 as part of the campaign while Maldon District Council was given £11,215 and Tendring Council was awarded £25,367.

Communities Secretary James Brokenshire said: “High streets are at the centre of our communities and as places that are well loved, they sometimes need a bit of a spruce up to look their very best.

“That’s why we will be providing councils with £9.75 million to work with community groups who need that extra money to give their local high street a spring clean, making sure their town centres are really spick and span.