VOLUNTEERS have been thanked for giving up their time to improve an overgrown, litter-strewn grotspot.

The Give and Gain initiative saw Northwich Town Council team up on Friday with staff from Tesco in Manchester Road to clean up a path in Leftwich.

An eight-strong team from the supermarket joined forces with two town councillors and four council employees to tackle the eyesore.

The clean-up focused on a 400-metre footpath from Dunham Road through the Leftwich estate. The path acts as a short cut through the estate, and was very overgrown and covered in litter.

Town council operations manager Mike Crimes said because of the condition of the path residents were avoiding using it, which meant they had to walk much further to get round the estate.

A number of grotspots have been identified throughout the town and surrounding estates, and have been brought to the attention of the town council through ward walks and councillor surgeries.

Tesco became involved in Give and Gain as businesses and organisations contact the council to ask if they can give something back to the community by volunteering.

Town council employees prepared the area by spraying weeds before starting to clear the footpath, which was badly overgrown with grass and rubbish.

The paving flags were fully exposed as a result of the work, which widened the path, and the whole area was then litter-picked and cleared to make it ready for use by residents.

The volunteers started the clean-up at 9.30am, and the work was completed at 3.30pm.

“The day was a great success,” said Mr Crimes.

“Everyone who took part worked very hard to transform this pathway so it is now fully accessible for all to use.

“A big thank you to everyone who volunteered their time and worked hard to make these great improvements.

“The Give and Gain initiative is the perfect opportunity to make a difference by hitting these areas of neglect which prove to be a problem for members of the public.

“By making improvements this is greatly appreciated by the public, as these areas affect them on a daily basis.”