BIG-HEARTED cubs and scouts have been doing their bit to tidy the graves of fallen First World War soldiers buried in an overgrown Quarry Bank cemetery ahead of Remembrance Sunday.

Cubs and Scouts from 1st Quarry Bank and the DY5 Explorer Scouts got stuck in with weeding and clearing during a clean-up project in Victoria Road Cemetery.

Ted Batham – group scout leader for 1st Quarry Bank Scout Group – said: “It went absolutely brilliantly. We tidied around five graves and collected about 10 bags of rubbish and around 30 people turned up in total, made up of members and parents.”

During the two-hour clean-up - the team tidied around tombstones including those of Private George Hollis of the Worcestershire Regiment, Private Joseph Ebenezer Parkes of the South Staffordshire Regiment and Private Joseph William Forrest of the King's Owen Yorkshire Light Infantry.

Many of the youngsters helped to tidy up areas around Quarry Bank High Street in the run up to the town’s first-ever In Bloom entry in July and Mr Batham said: "Since then they have become very conscious about community impact and felt that with Remembrance up and coming it would be a good time as there would likely be more visitors at this time of year."

Quarry Bank councillor Bryan Cotterill praised the youngsters for their efforts and community spirit and said: “The scouts did an outstanding job on the graves, it's a real credit to them."

The clean up was one of the first events the DY5 Explorer Scouts have taken part in. The group is always on the lookout for new members and anyone interested in joining or finding out more can check out www.1stqb.org.uk