Spring clean by Victoria Eco Club members

The group have signed up to the Adopt a Spot initiative and have officially adopted the Mill Ponds site, which they will help to clean up at least four times a year.

The Adopt a Spot initiative in Carrickfergus is running in collaboration with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful and formally enables volunteer groups to adopt an area and look after it.

The group picked four big bags of litter, comprising bottles, cans, fast food packaging and plastics.

Alison Diver, natural communities outreach officer with Carrickfergus Borough Council said: “The group were disappointed to see so much litter on the walk to the site and on site itself. Apart from spoiling the look of our streets and green spaces, litter can be harmful to wildlife; for instance, rubbish thrown into rivers can kill swans and ducks and pollute the water for fish.

“The average cost of street cleaning in Northern Ireland is £93,150 per day across all current 26 district councils. This is money that could be put to better use!

“The Eco Club urges everyone to be responsible and dispose of their litter correctly.”