A popular community litter pick scheme is set to return for the spring.

The 'Love East Suffolk' litter pick scheme returns from next month – with people in Waveney being encouraged to show some love for the environment we live in.

Last year the incentive based campaign helped clean up more than 7.6 tonnes of waste across Suffolk Coastal and Waveney while also giving groups funding to spend in their community.

This year, both councils hope to encourage even more groups to take part – beating the 2,035 people who got involved during 2016.

To encourage more groups of volunteers to help litter pick in East Suffolk, the Love East Suffolk scheme offers a £20 payment to all groups who register their litter pick to take place between March 1 to May 31.

All registered groups who carry out their pick during this period will also be entered into a prize draw, with prizes of £200 awarded to winning groups in each of five 'neighbourhood areas' in Suffolk Coastal and in each of four 'neighbourhood areas' in Waveney with funding once again provided by Norse.

The scheme ties in with the Great British Spring Clean taking place from March 3 to March 5, which aims to bring together people from across the country to clean up litter that blights our towns, villages, countryside and coastline.

Stephen Ardley, cabinet member for operational partnerships at Waveney District Council, said: 'After the success of last year, both councils were adamant that the scheme should be continued.

'This spring, we would love to see new groups get out there and take pride in the fantastic environment we live in and we hope the financial incentive will inspire more people to take part.

'As always, we will support groups by providing them with litter picking equipment and collect the waste away for them and will continue to do so at any time of the year.'

Equipment, including sacks and disposable gloves, can be provided to groups on request and Norse will arrange for gathered litter to be collected.

? To book your litter pick, please visit www.eastsuffolk.gov.uk/waste/litter