SALE WOMBLES is celebrating a year of litter picking, in which time they held six litter pick events and collected 153 bags of rubbish.

Helen Bayliss and Will Jones established the Sale Wombles to keep Sale clean and tidy with regular litter picks between March and October.

Helen, originally from Canada and now settled in Sale, is litter coordinator for The Friends of Bridgewater Canal and has been recognised by Trafford Council for her tireless campaign against litter in the area.

Born in Liverpool and later moving to Sale, Will is involved in various community activities, including school governor and organising the equipment for the litter picks.

Covering Sale town centre, Ashton Village, Priory Gardens and beyond, Sale Wombles have plans to travel further and collect even more rubbish. In July, the Wombles held the first ‘Across Trafford’ litter picking event in Timperley and Brooklands, with the support of Timperley Tidiers and Our Altrincham Litter Pick Group.

Helen said: “We would like to thank Thrive Trafford and Trafford Housing Trust for the funding they have provided in 2013, allowing Sale Wombles to purchase our own litter pick equipment.

“This will allow us to continue our work and help other groups, both old and new, to litter pick around Trafford into 2014 and beyond.”

The next event is planned for October 27, meeting at Sale Waterside at 2pm.

The mysterious ‘Captain Manchester’ is expected to put in an appearance and hot drinks donated by Sainsbury’s will be on offer for volunteers at the end of the pick.