A LITTER blitz in Kidlington led to more than 22 tonnes of waste being swept from the streets – the weight of four fully-grown African elephants.

Cherwell District Council’s two mechanical street sweepers were out between April 20 and April 24.

The machines collected 14,560kg of rubbish, while a crew of seven street cleaners picked up a further 7,820kg.

Ian Davies, the council’s strategic director for environment and community, said: “We are doing all we can to make sure the beautiful streets of our district remain beautiful. Now it is down to the good folk of Kidlington to try and make sure the village remains clean as we’re not able to organise this kind of initiative regularly.”

During the blitz, council staff also knocked on doors in Cherwell Avenue to find out how residents felt about their street cleaning, refuse collection and recycling services.

Mr Davies said people gave helpful hints what the council should tackle in the future, particularly flytipping by Yarnton Bridge, at the garages off Waverley Avenue and near Cherwell Avenue.

Residents also pointed out graffiti hotspots at the bus stop near the Harvester pub in Bicester Road and in an alleyway off Cherwell Avenue.

Other initiatives near the village include expanding a recycling scheme on the A34 to include the A41 between the M40 roundabout and Bicester.

Drivers can recycle paper, plastic bottles and cans in one of the 12 special multi-purpose bins, as well as get rid of other rubbish.

George Reynolds, portfolio holder for community, health and environment, said since the bins had been installed along the A34 there had been a 50 per cent drop in litter.

He said: “The A41 and A34 schemes will make a big difference to the roadsides.”

In addition, the district council and Oxfordshire Waste Partnership spent £10,000 last year introducing recycling bins for plastic, cans and paper at 14 bus stops in Evans Lane, Oxford Road, Yarnton Road and Grovelands.

Cherwell claims to have one of the highest household recycling rates in the country at 48 per cent.

To report a litter hotspot, call the council on 01295 221572.

This year’s spring clean in Cherwell collected more than a tonne of rubbish, collected by a total of 45 groups, including 23 parish councils and 14 schools.