A GROUP of litter-pickers gave one of Barrow’s industrial estates a much-needed face lift.

SERCO Maritime Services, based on Peter Green Way, sent out a team of 12 to tackle litter-strewn areas such as Phoenix Road, parts of the A590, Ashburner Way, and Bessamer Way.

These streets are nearby SERCO’s office and Furness College, so the main reason behind the big clean was to make the busy business estate more presentable to professionals and students coming to the area.

Member of staff Janet Woodhead, who spearheaded the SERCO clean up, said: “The industrial estate where we’re based in next to the A590, which is the gateway to Barrow.

“I work in this area everyday and it has become very littered so we wanted to do something about it.

“We held two beach clean ups last year throughout Barrow, so we are well aware of the dangers litter and waste has on the local environment.

“Another issue is the public’s opinion on litter.

“The people of Barrow think that they can just drop litter and it’s the Barrow Borough Council’s job to pick it up.

“This is far from the truth.

“So another motivation for us, other than giving the gateway to Barrow a facelift, is to change people’s perspective and make them more aware of the damage they are doing to the environment through laziness and negligence.

“We’re here to set an example.

“We work with the shipyard for maritime cleaning services, so in a way we are representing the area on a professional basis.”

Charlie Mawer, SERCO contract manager (pictured right, on the right), said: “It’s good to get involved with these sorts of initiatives because it shows the business cares wants to get involved with the community.”

Going forward, the company are looking to work with Dock Museum's Furness Eco Group.