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Jaywick councillor takes annual leave to clean litter with community

Bradley Thompson Bradley Thompson stood in front of fly tipping and collected litter Bradley Thompson
Bradley Thompson has taken a week off work to spend seven days picking up litter

A councillor has taken a week off work to spend seven days picking up litter.

Bradley Thompson, of Tendring District Council, said cleaning in the Jaywick area has brought "satisfaction" and he encouraged others to volunteer.

Over the weekend litter pickers cleared 10 fridges, 15 sofas, 10 beds and filled 100 rubbish bags.

Mr Thompson said disposing of waste could be expensive but littering and fly-tipping was not the answer.

Bradley Thompson A man pushing a wheel barrow full off rubbish Bradley Thompson
Tendring District Council will remove the rubbish collected

Mr Thompson, who is an independent councillor for West Clacton and Jaywick Sands, said: "It is easier to throw it [litter] out and let someone else deal with it, but we are educating people.

"We occasionally get calls asking for help to dispose of something, so a volunteer will go with a van and gladly take it.

"You're never going to win the battle, but unless you keep at it, it will get worse and worse".

Mr Thompson, who is also chairman of the Jaywick Sands Community Forum, said that over the last year the forum cleared about seven tonnes of rubbish from the beach.

Bradley Thompson Litter pickers cleaning a grass area Bradley Thompson
The West Clacton and Jaywick litter-pickers and Clacton litter-pickers joined together to clean a dyke

Yet he added that this week's clean could have been one of the biggest he has ever done and he thanked everyone for their hard work.

The West Clacton and Jaywick litter-pickers and Clacton litter-pickers joined together to clean a dyke over the weekend, using equipment from Clean Up UK.

Tendring District Council will remove the rubbish that has been collected.

Bradley Thompson A pile of rubbish Bradley Thompson
Mr Thompson said cleaning the areas brings "self-satisfaction”

Mr Thompson encouraged more people to volunteer with litter-picking groups.

He said: "Rather than sitting at home, come and join, we have a laugh, you meet new people and make a difference, it does wonders and gives you self-satisfaction."

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