Hundreds of people in small groups across Oxford gave the city a spring clean over the weekend - and filled scores of black bags with rubbish.

The OxClean drive by Oxford Civic Society saw young and old getting together to clear the city's litter hot spots.

Green city councillor Elise Benjamin was among a small throng who helped clear up the Manzil Way play area off Cowley Road.

She said: "The best thing about it was the number of children who got involved. They were amazed at the amount of litter strewn around.

"I'm sure they got the message that being a litter lout is antisocial."

At Summertown car park, there was a revival of the Wombles - the children's television series that saw furry creatures clearing up litter on Wimbledon Common.

Together with the Rev Willy Pryor, dressed as Great Uncle Bulgaria, and his wife Elizabeth, a group of boys from Summer Fields School cleared up the car park.

Bishop Jeremy Dick led the congregation of the Church of Jesus Christ and Latter Day Saints in cleaning up an area next to Redbridge park and ride off Abingdon Road.

He said: "There were 55 of us and we filled 135 black bags full of rubbish as well as picking up dumped television sets, car batteries and other less savoury things. It was a very successful operation. At the end we enjoyed a mass barbecue, which was great fun."

Members of the Rotary Club of Oxford North tackled hedgerows along the northern bypass from Marston flyover to Banbury Road roundabout.

They filled 14 sacks and collected a lot of broken glass.

Members of the Falcon Rowing Club were in action clearing up around their boathouse in Meadow Lane and on the river between Iffley and Folly Bridge.

One of the organisers, Laura Giles, said: "We did as much as we could from the three boats which took part in the clean up, collecting bits in the river and along the banks as far as we could reach. There was lots of litter, plastic bags, vodka bottles and other drink bottles.

"We were helped by a group of disabled canoeists and were very pleased with our efforts."

Organisers hope the clean up will become an annual event.