A public-spirited East Oxford woman has called for people in the area to show they care about their neighbourhood, by helping her tidy it up.

Vesna Bilic, started East Oxford Cares, her one-woman branch of a national litter picking campaign, to clean up the area she is so proud of.

Ms Bilic, from Hurst Road, said The Big Tidy Up, organised by Keep Britain Tidy, had given her the perfect chance to take some positive action.

She said: "I have lived off the Cowley Road all my life and I get a bit upset when I see the state it can get in.

"I love where I live, but every time I walk up and down the street, I start to feel down about the way people treat it.

"There are always fast food wrappers and cans around. And since the smoking ban came in, it seems the streets have filled up with cigarette ends.

"I saw the sign for the Big Tidy Up on the side of a bus shelter and I thought it would be a good chance to do something about it."

The scheme encourages community groups, businesses and schools across the country to organise their own litter pick to improve the state of our streets. East Oxford Cares is one of 35 litter picks organised around Oxfordshire since the online initiative was launched.

But Ms Bilic said, despite her best efforts, she could not clean up the area alone — and has appealed for people to help her on her mission on Saturday, September 27.

She added: "It would be great to get a few extra pairs of hands to help me.

"I will start in Cowley Road and go wherever the rubbish takes me."

Anyone keen to take part should meet in Dawson Street outside Cafe CoCo at 1pm.

Oxford City Council has provided Ms Bilic with a clutch of litter pickers and plastic gloves.

A spokesman from Keep Britain Tidy said: "Well done to East Oxford Cares. "We wish them every success.

"This is one of thousands of groups across the nation fed up with litter and who want to make a difference."

To help Miss Bilic by joining in the clean-up, email vesna52@msn.com.

Alternatively, people interested in organising their own litter picking effort in their area, can visit www.thebigtidyup.org