PEOPLE in Stourbridge are being asked to support and help keep their parks clean as part of a national campaign.

Keep Britain Tidy's Love your Parks week aims to raise awareness of the issues caused by people who drop rubbish in parks.

The campaign, which runs from Friday July 23 to Sunday August 1, is partly in response to a 69 per cent increase in littering in parks and green spaces during the pandemic which forced Dudley's parks team to install 25 extra bins and increase staffing on litter collections during lockdown.

Councillor Karen Shakespeare, Dudley Council's cabinet member for public realm, said: "Parks are incredibly important places that give us space to play, relax and enjoy nature and the pandemic highlighted how essential they are to a sense of wellbeing.

"We know that many wonderful people are already volunteering and helping to keep our parks and open spaces clear of litter, dropped by those who don’t care about the environment they live in.

"Love Your Parks Week highlights the unfortunate impact that littering can have on our parks and we are encouraging people to join in with community litter picks in their local area."

People can report fly-tipping by using the Dudley Council app, calling 0300 555 2345, emailing dudleycouncilplus@dudley.gov.uk, online at dudley.gov.uk or via Twitter at @dudleyplus.

More information about Love Your Parks Week can be found online at keepbritaintidy.org.