At a reception in the Mayor’s parlour on November 19 for participants in this year’s Big Tidy Up all-Island Challenge His Worship the Mayor of Douglas, Councillor Ritchie McNicholl JP praised the Island-wide community effort that had resulted in the collection of more than two tonnes of litter over one weekend in October. Held on Friday October 8 and Saturday October 9 the challenge was led and co-ordinated by Douglas Borough Council, with His Worship the Mayor, Council Members, Officers and staff among the 400-strong volunteer workforce drawn from all sectors of the community who had joined forces to target litter hotspots around the Island. Thanking the participants His Worship said: ‘The Big Tidy Up was a tremendous effort. Not only were more than two tonnes of litter collected that weekend, two-thirds of that amount was recyclable, so that was an added bonus. I was also heartened when, during a recent reception I hosted in the parlour for a visiting group of choir festival members, the guests made a point of commenting to me on how clean and litter-free the Island was. I therefore extend my sincere thanks to everyone in the community – including the local authorities, businesses, schools and voluntary organisations - who chose to demonstrate their civic pride and take part in the Big Tidy Up all-Island challenge, which is now an annual event and in 2011 will take place on Friday September 30 and Saturday October 1.’ Ends