THE annual springtime litter pick around Bramshott and Liphook attracted more then 40 members of the community, all turned out in high viz jackets (pictured).

Organised by Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council and assisted by Liphook in Bloom, as well as members Liphook Scouts, Girlguiding, the Peak Centre and Liphook and District Businessmens’ Association (LiDBA), volunteers dispersed in several groups across the parish.

Full bags were collected by parish councillor James Green, from Liphook Tree Surgeons, who drove around the village collecting them in his truck. Items included two car seats and two large tyres.

Parish council chairman Jane Ives told The Herald: “East Hampshire District Council had to dispose of a total of eight cubic meters of rubbish collected from around the parish, which was an astonishing amount for the size of our village.

“The council and Liphook in Bloom would like to thank all those people who gave up their Sunday morning to help. We would also like to appeal to residents to keep an eye on any litter in their own areas and put it in a bin.”

Starting this month, the Government has announced, litter louts will face on-the-spot fines of up to £150, almost double the current limit of £80, which is the maximum fixed penalty councils can hand out to people dropping litter or throwing rubbish from cars.

The minimum fine will increase from £50 to £65, while the default fine will increase from £75 to £100, the Environment Department (Defra) has warned.

In future, town halls will also be able to impose fines on the owners of vehicles from which litter was thrown, even if it was discarded by someone else.

Hampshire County Council issued recent findings that households in Hampshire produce more waste than those in most other authorities in the southern region with over 200kg a year more than households in the best performing authority.

A significant problem is contamination in recycling - for plastic pots, tubs and trays, or food waste.

Another expensive issue is glass which is put into household waste – it costs about £14 to incinerate an item of glass in household waste.

The county council is running a number of schemes to raise awareness about what can be recycled through the kerb-side collections, and how they can reduce waste through reusing and recycling.

Bramshott and Liphook Parish Council has bought litter-picking equipment which any resident can use to carry out a litter pick in their street or area.

Call (01428) 722988 or visit www.hants.gov.uk/waste andrecycling/smartliving for info.