A GROUP of Lymm Runners, equipped with litter pickers and plastic bags, have been engaging in the new craze of Plogging.

A Scandinavian lifestyle activity – the name is a combination of jogging with Plocka, the Swedish word for picking - it combines running with picking up rubbish. It is now being pioneered by Lymm Runners with the support of the Keep Lymm Kleen campaign.

As well as keeping the streets and trails of Lymm tidier, it also helps the runners, who are combining running with squatting to lift the rubbish or stretching to pick bags and other litter snagged in trees.

The first Plog took place on April 14 along Crouchley Lane where seven large sackfuls of litter were collected

A spokesman for Lymm Runners said: “We have become increasingly disheartened at the amount of rubbish on the roads and trails that we run on round Lymm and decided to do something about it.

“Club members will meet once a month to clear an area of trail or road of rubbish.

“Thank you to Brian Harman who organises volunteer groups for the Keep Lymm Kleen campaign and to Cllr Anna Fradgley, for their support and encouragement and for supplying us with kit.”

Cllr Fradgley, who initiated the Keep Lymm Kleen project, said: “I was delighted to receive the email from Lymm Runners asking if they could help with the initiative.

“It makes such a difference if the community works together to keep Lymm looking tidy. I would welcome more groups like this to come forward and volunteer.

“They can do it in their own time and the parish council will provide all the kit.”