CHILDREN from the Oxford Academy signalled the start of what will be the city’s biggest ever litter-pick this weekend.

More than 1,500 volunteers will be taking part in OxClean Spring Clean 2010 tomorrow and Saturday, with 105 community groups to tackle litter-strewn locations across the city.

Sixty-one residents’ groups, seven businesses and 19 schools have helped swell this year’s impressive total.

And the mass spring clean was officially launched last Friday by Oxford East MP Andrew Smith at one of the Oxford schools to have its army of litter-pickers at the ready — Oxford Academy, in Littlemore.

The launch was attended by Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson, Deputy Lord Mayor of Oxford John Goddard and Tony Joyce, the chairman of Oxford Civic Society, which created OxClean.

The clean-up is again being supported by The Oxford Times.

Speaking at the school, Mr Smith said: “The message is that we are proud of our city and we show our pride by the responsibility we take by doing our bit to keep it clean.

“I would like to congratulate everyone involved in the OxClean initiative and all the groups across the city, who will make it the best OxClean ever and get Oxford sparkling.”

In recent weeks, scores of readers have responded to appeals in The Oxford Times to identify some of the city’s worst ‘grotspots’, with many residents’ groups identifying streets, parks, pathways allotments and car parks in their own neighbourhoods.

OxClean was able to buy 400 litter-pickers thanks to a £2,500 grant from the Oxfordshire Commu-nity Foundation and £200 from Carl Room, the owner of the McDonald’s franchises in Botley, Headington and the city centre, also one of this year’s sponsors.

Hundreds of litter-pickers have already been handed out to community groups, who will be able to keep them after their efforts over the weekend.

The Oxford Civic Society runs OxClean in partnership with The Oxford Times and Oxford City Council. Each group taking part will be carrying out a two-hour litter-pick tomorrow or Saturday. Further details can be found at oxclean.org.uk