EIGHT volunteers from the community joined the Mayor of Launceston Dave Gordon on the inaugural Launceston Big Clean on Friday, October 18.

The first area to benefit from the clear up was Pennygillam, where the volunteers collected 12 bags of refuse. Cllr Gordon said: "I am very grateful to those that turned out to spare a few hours to clean up an area of the town that seems to attract litter. We focused the first big clean on Pennygillam as it is the main route into Launceston via the A30, and I have always said that first impressions count.

"Picking up 12 bags of refuse in just two hours shows it desperately needed doing."

Thanks to the success of this event, organisers are now planning to hold another 'big clean' soon — this time concentrating on the Newport and St Stephens area of Launceston.

For the full report, and a round up of the area news and sport, see this week's edition of the 'Post'.