More than 50 people started New Year’s Day by giving parts of Bordon a very early spring clean.

While many were still asleep or nursing hangovers from a few hours earlier, a small army of volunteers took part in a community clean-up in and around The Forest Centre.

Participants wanted to “give something back” in the annual New Year Community Clean-up organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, with similar events taking place all around the UK.

While conditions were icy the atmosphere was warm with more than 20 bags being filled by volunteers of all ages who gathered outside Lidl at 7am.

They included Y-Plus Youth Services founder, Jodie Gibbs-Farrow, who was very grateful for the free tea served up to volunteers on a chilly morning.

She said: “I think it takes a whole community to give back and not just one group of people.

“We did gets lots and lots, but it really surprised me how clean it was,” she said, before lauding the “amazing” work of the Ahmadiyya.

Crisp packets, empty cans and dog pooh bags were among the most frequently collected items on the morning, with teams splitting up and taking on different areas around the shopping centre.

There was some friendly competition to bag the most rubbish with organisers providing volunteers with gloves and bags before the pick and a hot breakfast afterwards.

Some of the younger volunteers have even become veterans of the event, with the likes of Zak and Leyla taking part in their third and fourth picks, respectively, despite being just 11 and nine years old. They like taking part because it meets their beliefs of peace, looking after the environment and getting together with neighbours.

“We found some really random things,” said the latter, adding: “I found a wallet and a ripped up helmet.”