AN eager team of junior sea cadets got the Evening Mail Big Clean off to a fantastic start as they scoured their chosen area of assorted junk and debris.

The Barrow Junior Sea Cadets decided to clean up the lane outside the Sir John Fisher sailing centre just around the corner from St Andrews Engineering Ltd on Barrow Island. The sea cadets were staying at the centre to have their first overnight camp of the year and decided that it would be the perfect place to conduct their Big Clean. 

Team leader Vicki Kerr said: "The children had a great time, it was their own idea to take part and do another Big Clean and they wanted to do an area that meant something to them.

"Now the exterior of our camp centre has really been cleaned up and they feel very proud of it."

The Barrow Junior Sea Cadets have been involved in the Evening Mail's Big Clean over the past few years and were the first group to participate for 2016. When they gathered on Saturday there were 24 children who took part and they were mostly between the ages of 10-12 but some from the 14-16 age group too. 

Miss Kerr said: "Although the children enjoyed the clean as a group activity they were shocked to see just how messy the area was. 

"It has definitely taught them not to drop any rubbish themselves and they seemed quite indignant that residents have not been cleaning up after themselves.

"We did find quite the assortment of items, including an old tyre and a tent that had been dumped. Unfortunately the tent wasn't salvageable."

The sea cadets gathered 12 bags of rubbish altogether, which were collected by Barrow Borough Council. 

Streetcare officer Peter Buckley said: “The Streetcare Department, on behalf of the council has always actively supported the Big Clean. Once again this year we are more than happy to help in any way we can. It is only by working in partnership at such events that hopefully we will be able to put across the message of how important it is to look after where we live and the environment in general.”

Please contact gabrielle.rowley@nwemail.co.uk if you would like to get involved in the Evening Mail's Big Clean 2016.