MORE than 100 young people from Oxford Brookes University are looking to really clean up the image of students living in Headington next month.

The president of Brookes University Student Union, Antoinette Kyuchukova, says she is determined that students should play an active part in The Oxford Times-sponsored spring clean of the city.

And she says the litter picking will extend beyond the university's campuses to take in neighbouring streets.

The president believes the OxClean Spring Clean, which will be taking place on March 14, 15 or 16, could go a long way towards sweeping away critical views of students in the area.

Previous years have seen complaints about noise and late-night rowdiness in Headington. But Ms Kyuchukova says the army of litter-pickers that she is assembling will show students in a new light to many of its neighbours.

They are planning to clean up stretches of London, Cowley and Divinity roads. Competitions are being planned to make it a fun day for the students taking part. Members of the art department are also to be enlisted to create waste-inspired sculptures.

Ms Kyuchukova, who will be acting as the project leader at Brookes, said: "I think OxClean will give students the chance to get over the message that at Brookes we want to have a positive impact on the local community.

"We will be trying to cover the campus and local roads and also hope to introduce a bit of fun on the day. Maybe with prizes for the heaviest bags or most peculiar items found.

"We also plan to work with the university to see if we can get staff involved.

"I already go along to listen to what is being said at meetings of local residents' groups. The relationship between the university and residents has moved a long way over the last couple of years."

An additional 40 students will be cleaning up the area around the university's Wheatley campus, even though OxClean is focused on getting volunteers to clean up areas in Oxford.

Residents' associations, youth groups, colleges, restaurants and pubs are all being invited to join a two hour litter pick that will take place in March.

The clean up is being backed by The Oxford Times and run by the Oxford Civic Society and Oxford City Council.

Those volunteering may nominate a local street, park, playground, industrial estate, town square or public open space: the choice is yours.

As well as selecting a site, each group will be responsible for recruiting volunteers and organising the collection of litter and some of the equipment that may be needed, such as gloves.

Anyone wishing to take part should visit oxclean.oxfordcivicsoc.org.uk, email oxclean@oxfordcivicsoc.

org.uk, or write to OxClean Spring Clean 2008, 67 Cunliffe Close, Oxford, OX2 7BJ.