A GROUP of environmental activists are waging war on the scourge of litter blighting Inverclyde beauty spots.

The Clean Cut crew - a group of 22 volunteers - armed themselves with litter pickers and rubbish bags and headed to Old Largs Road.

Over a three hour period they filled 56 bags of rubbish, with the waste collected by Clyde Muirshiel Park senior ranger Mike Holcombe.

The merry band of litter lifters were gathered together by Vicky Cookson and her partner Robert Ross.

After living overseas for several years, the couple moved to Greenock three years ago and they head for The Cut regularly to collect rubbish.

She said: "There's been a significant increase in rubbish since coronavirus lockdown started last year.

"People are buying food and drink and consuming it in their cars and instead of just keeping the rubbish in the car, they're chucking it out of the window.

"We walk The Cut a lot and had been collecting the rubbish ourselves but the problem is too big for just the two of us to deal with now.

"We realised that we needed a team - people who care about the environment as much as we do."

On the waste-removal mission, the crew collected fast food containers and packaging, face masks, empty beer, cider and energy drink cans and even empty packets of painkillers.

They also spotted polystyrene boxes and even saw toilet paper and human waste.

Vicky says the volunteers were enthusiastic and put in a great team effort.

She added: "So many people stopped us to tell us what a great job we were doing.

"Our numbers have now swelled to about 40 and we're really looking forward to the next events."

But she is also pleading with people to think before they chuck their rubbish away.

Vicky added: "There's so much beautiful countryside around us and a lot of wildlife.

"We need to take care of it and respect it.

"Society is getting more and more disposable and we have to change our behaviour and reduce the amount of single use packaging."

Mike Holcombe, senior ranger at Clyde Muirshiel Park, says the crew did a great job.

He said: "It was a really impressive turnout and they're clearly a very dedicated bunch of local people.

"The Old Largs Road section is the first impression people get of the park.

"We're so lucky to have it but we need to keep it looking good, as first impressions count."

Inverclyde MP Ronnie Cowan joined the crew on their Old Largs Road mission.

He said: "A lot of folk will complain and lay the blame quite correctly at the feet of the perpetrators but few will actually do something about it.

"We need a few more like the Crew - people who are prepared to take responsibility, utilise their own time, organise others and ultimately make a positive difference."

*The next Clean Cut Crew litter picks will take place on March 27 and April 24 at locations within Clyde Muirshiel Park.