YOUNG people hit the streets last week in a bid to clean up their part of Sidmouth.

YOUNG people hit the streets last week in a bid to clean up their part of SidmouthBeginning at the Manstone Youth Centre, about 70 youngsters spent Friday morning litter picking and cleaning the streets in the Manstone and Woolbrook area. To thank them for the hard work, a barbecue and football match was held in the afternoon.PCSO Steve Blanchford-Cox organised the event, along with Sidmouth Youth Council and Mark Gerry from the youth centre.He said: "It went extremely well. The weather was a bit of a worry in the morning, but it only drizzled a bit. Young people, and parents, plus the church group, came down to help and we had the probation service to do the stream for us. In the afternoon, we had a barbecue with food donated by Lidl and Chris Pike from the Educated Pig."The youth council is trying to get the young people to recognise and take some ownership of the mess, although they are not entirely responsible. We found a bag of rotting fishing, a number plate, a scooter and all sorts of rubbish, like bricks."We are really really proud of the kids and they really mucked in, even the ones we didn't think would.