Your community needs you to help clear up Southend – and council chiefs have pledged £30,000 to the cause.

Southend Council has earmarked the cash for the “Make Southend Sparkle” campaign to clean up the borough’s grot spots.

And the campaign will look to recruit volunteers to target litter, fly-tipping, and other blights on neighbourhoods such as pockets of Westcliff and York Road, Southend.

Mary Betson, councillor responsible for enterprise, tourism, and economic development, said: “We can all play a positive role in uplifting the environment of our neighbourhoods, from planting trees, to reporting fly-tipping and litter, encouraging our neighbours to place their waste bags out on the correct day so there aren’t bags piling up on our streets attracting vermin.

“We already have various community groups who do wonderful work in making their neighbourhoods greener and cleaner, and many more who have expressed an interest in becoming involved in such activities.

“This project would bring together local groups and businesses and help provide them with the skills, resources and some funding to make a real difference to the environment of their neighbourhoods.”

Holly Trees in planters were positioned in London Road this morning as part of Make Southend Sparkle.

Chief volunteers roles will be to recruit volunteers, funding, and bringing together community groups who already do their bit for their neighbourhoods.

The cash injection will need to be rubber-stamped by full council on Thursday, February 25.

However Mrs Betson, who represents Prittlewell, pointed out the borough has well regarded parts.

She added: “Southend is already a wonderfully green borough with five Green Flag-status parks and award-winning beaches.”