LITTER dumped at the iconic Lyle Hill was tackled by a crowd of determined waste warriors.

Last Saturday marked the first meeting of the Lyle Hillbillies - a group of tenacious litter pickers set up to tackle the problem of rubbish at the scenic spot.

Led by Martina Franke and Jess McInnes, the group plan to meet every month to rid the area of everything from McDonald's packaging to wet wipes.

Martina came up with the idea for the group after being dismayed by the amount of rubbish strewn around.

She added: "I come up here most days with my dog Oscar and there's just so much litter.

"I knew we had to do something about it.

"Bins are a huge issue - when they get too full, people just dump their rubbish at the side or chuck it on the ground.

"Some rubbish also blows up from Grieve Road, especially when the wind topples recycling bins over.

"Other people just throw it out of their cars.

"Something has to be done about it."

Martina and her fellow rubbish removers believe that the bins should be replaced and are also campaigning for bottle and can deposit machines.

They believe that clearer signage will make people aware of the impact of litter lying around, and Martina says increased ranger services, education and large environmental campaigns could also help with the issue.

The Hillbillies - already 30-strong - plan to work with Inverclyde Council and other local organisations try to come up with solutions.

The formation of the group follows the establishment of several other, area-specific litter picking groups, including the Clean Cut Crew which focuses on the Greenock Cut.

Stephen Henry, who runs the Literati Guide to Inverclyde page on Facebook, says rubbish removal events are proving popular.

He said: "We share equipment between groups and it's becoming a very vibrant community.

"The litter picks encourage people to get outside and meet like-minded people.

"It can also really help with mental health and offers peer support."

Stephen says the groups are keen to get young people on board as ambassadors.

He added: "We need to engage more with the younger generation.

"To do that we need to get schools involved and drive home the impact that littering has on the environment.

"If we want to effect societal change, learning about litter should be a huge part of education."

To find out more visit the Literati Guide to Inverclyde page on Facebook.

GREEN TEAM Jess McInnes, Martina Franke and her dog Oscar, and Stephen Henry.