Youngsters rolled up their sleeves for a royally good clean as they took on grime crime ahead of the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Around 15 litter pickers between five and 11 years old wasted no time in clearing the Asta Hub garden and neighbouring estate in Canning Town last Friday.

The ‘Rubbish Raiders’ cleared ten bags of litter as part of the community hubs play project. The litter pick was run in partnership with CleanupUK’s Beautiful Boroughs Project and the Clean for the Queen campaign, .

Asta hub manager Tracy Smith said the Beautiful Boroughs Initiative “instilled a sense of pride for their area and community for those participating”.

She added: “It is a fantastic initiative that brings people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds together with a common goal of cleaning up their own neighbourhoods.”

Asta Community Hubs Play Project based in Canning Town, engages children between the ages of 5 1/2 - 11 years old. The project meets twice weekly, Wednesday and Friday 4-6pm and 10am - 4pm in the half term holidays. This play project is free for young people to access and provides and safe and secure environment for young people to engage in a wide variety of activities.

If you live in Newham and would like to be involved in a clean-up event in your area contact Neeta Kanagaratanam on 07469 660 843 or email neeta.kanagaratnam@cleanupuk.org.uk