Forget dragons – residents urged to fight litter

St George will be challenging anyone who lives, works and shops in Manchester city centre to show their pride in the city by keeping the streets clean.

The public will be asked to make sure they throw away their litter responsibly when all street-cleaning services are removed from the city centre on St George's Day, Thursday, April 23, for Manchester City Council's Own Your Streets Day.

And a City Council volunteer will stir up enthusiasm for the event by dressing as the patron saint sitting on top of a dragon, asking residents, shoppers and office workers to make sure their litter goes into bins - not onto pavements.

Since Own Your Streets Day was launched six years ago, the public have been only too willing to take up the challenge, with residents ensuring that city centre streets have been kept spotless.

This year, the campaign is being held as part of the City Council's Proud Of Manchester campaign, which celebrates life in the city's neighbourhoods and encourages residents to make tiny changes which will create big improvements across Manchester.

At the end of the afternoon, a team of judges including Councillor Paul Andrews, the Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, John Lockett from CityCo and Gloria Barnwell, Pride of Manchester winner 2008 will examine the city centre streets to rate them for cleanliness.

Big businesses are also putting their weight behind the campaign, with Primark , Debenhams and BHS putting up window displays promoting the event. Shops such as Tesco, Sainsbury's, Subway, Boots, Greggs and Somerfield will mark their food products with stickers reminding buyers to put wrappers in the bin.

Volunteers will also be asking residents for their views and tips on tackling climate change in Manchester. Anyone offering a tip will be given the opportunity to win an overnight stay at the Manchester Marriott Victoria and Albert Hotel in Water Street, two tickets to a Manchester City game or a meal for two at Kro Piccadilly.

Councillor Paul Andrews, Manchester City Council's Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services, said: "Own Your Streets day is a brilliant way of encouraging members of the public to realise the importance of showing pride in the city.

"It has been a hugely successful event in previous years, and this year, we hope residents, shoppers and workers will mark St George's Day by helping us keep the city centre's streets extra clean."

For more Manchester City Council news releases visit: http://www.manchester.gov.uk/