Residents urged to clean-up

People living in a Staffordshire town are being urged to take part in an operation to clean it up and boost community pride next week.

Residents are being invited to take part in the second Own Your Streets event in Hednesford this year.

It will involve members of the public and Cannock Chase Council and Staffordshire Police

The event is a co-ordinated blitz on problems which can blight people's lives.

The Own Your Streets project will last for two days and will start on Wednesday, October 10, with some of the issues being tackled including litter and rubbish, graffiti, health and crime prevention.

A variety of organisations will be on hand to offer free advice to people throughout the two-day event.

The activities will be co-ordinated from the West Cannock Sports and Social Club and will also concentrate on Lomax Road and surrounding streets in Hednesford.

Lomax Road hit the headlines earlier this year when three local men were jailed after a vicious assault on Craig Robins, a disabled man, outside a house in the street in October 2006.

Mr Robins was left in a coma and has never recovered.

Organisers of the two-day event hope the project will help solve some of the area's problems and improve the quality of life for local people.

This is the second time an Own Your Streets scheme has been carried out in Hednesford this year.

In March a similar two-day campaign was held in the Bradbury Lane and Pye Green areas.

Catriona Hamilton, community safety partnership officer at Cannock Chase Council, said: "Skips will be available for residents to dispose of garden cuttings and unwanted small household items free of charge.

"This event is being launched in partnership between the agencies and residents and we would encourage all residents to be involved in the clean up to make their community a more pleasant place with a clean and tidy environment where people feel safe and are safe."