A sponsored litter pick is taking place this weekend to help raise funds for skate park improvements in Whaley Bridge. 

Local youngsters and the Whaley Bridge Association have teamed up to organise the tidy up around the canal basin, which will help them match lottery funding.

Proposals for the improvements have been put together by the Whaley Bridge Association and High Peak Borough Council and, together with local youngsters a bid for £50,000 of National Lottery Funding has been put in.

PCSO Tracy Jones of the Whaley Bridge and Furness Vale Safer Neighbourhood Policing Team is supportive of the initiative. She said: “It is fantastic that our young people are willing to offer their time to raise funds for the initiative while at the same time giving something back to the local community and helping to improve the canal basin.

The skate park is popular with local youngsters and is a valuable asset to them. Making improvements to the facility will help maintain its popularity and can only be of benefit to the Whaley Bridge community.”

The event starts at 11am on Saturday, February 12.

Any litter which is collected during the pick will be recycled wherever possible.

Those wishing to sponsor or lend their support to the event are welcome to come along or alternatively contact Jonathan Carvell of the Whaley Bridge Association by sending an email to jonathancarnall@hotmail.com.