MEMBERS of a Romsey society have rallied together to keep a market town clean.

The Romsey and District Society's autumn litter pick and stream clean saw 73 volunteers come out in force in teams of two to six people, allowing the public to follow the Government's "rule of six".

The event, which normally runs twice a year, saw volunteers collect litter in and around the town, including the Holbrook Stream.

The society's chairman, Mark Cooper, said: "Society members and other volunteers usually gather at the Crosfield Hall and fan out across the town.

"But this autumn, with the 'rule of six' and social distancing in force, I asked the membership to form teams of two to six people; each team had litter-pickers, HiVis vests and collecting bags delivered to them.

"In total there were 17 teams out and about, amounting to 73 volunteers, including [MP for Romsey and Southampton North] Caroline Nokes and the Liberal Democrats parliamentary spokesman, Craig Fletcher."

He added: "Path and highway verges were the main source of litter, but some pickers noted there was less to collect this year than on previous litter picking campaigns. "It's hard to say how much litter was collected in total this time, but most of the society's recent pre-COVID litter picks accumulate around half a tonne."

"Test Valley Borough Council continues to be very supportive, lending out equipment and collecting in the full blue litter bags."

Mark, who organised the event, highlighted the society hopes to repeat the activity in April 2021.

The litter pick and stream clean ran from Saturday, October 3 to Saturday, October 10.