YOUNGSTERS from two city football teams gained some new team mates to tackle the issue of the litter around fast food joints.

Budding sports stars from St John’s Colts and Worcester Colts joined forces with staff from McDonald’s to keep the streets and parks clean and tidy as part of this year’s Take Pride campaign.

The campaign has been launched by Worcester City Council in conjunction with your Worcester News.

First up were the staff from the Hylton Road restaurant on Saturday, June 16, who travelled up to the Bull Ring and back, while the Blackpole restaurant staff joined the game on Saturday, June 23, to target the King George V playing fields.

Trevor Smith, franchisee of the Worcester outlets, said: “It’s our way of trying to put something back into the community.

“The children were enthusiastic and it was almost like a competition for them to see how many bags they could fill.

“I am like any parent in the way I don’t like litter and it is my way to persuade youngsters to see the impact of litter on their local area in the hope it might educate them and stop them throwing it in the first place.”

Players from Hylton Road Rovers also gave litter the red card on Saturday, June 9, when they scoured riverside paths between the Sabrina and Diglis bridges.

Coun Roger Knight, responsible for cleaner and greener, said: “I applaud the approach taken by Trevor Smith of McDonald’s and I dearly wish other businesses would follow the example he sets. One of the modern day problems we face follows on from the change in the law regarding smoking in the workplace, not that I disagree with the legislation, but the impact has caused smokers to congregate outside businesses, pubs and clubs leaving a residue of cigarette ends on the street and in entrance ways to premises.

“If businesses in Worcester followed Trevor’s example these soiled areas would be kept clean and outdoor ash trays provided and serviced.”

The campaign runs until Friday, July 27.