A DEDICATED litter picker is on a one-woman mission to clean up her village near York.

Carol Partington collects rubbish into plastic bags up to SIX times a day while walking her dogs around Nether Poppleton, and even got the council to send her a special litter picking device.

The 43-year-old says she always "politely confronts" people she sees dropping rubbish and tells them the harmful effect it has on the environment.

"We must be a nation of vodka drinkers if what I find is anything to go by," she said.

"Dentists must also be rubbing their hands judging by the amount of sweet wrappers I find.

"It concerns me because Poppleton is such a nice village.

"I've been picking up litter in the village for quite a few years now."

Carol now hopes to recruit fellow litter pickers from across York to join her on cleaning campaigns to make the city a nicer place to live.

"I thought I was the only one doing it at first, but then discovered other dog walkers picked up litter as well," she said.

"I'm not afraid to politely confront people I see dropping litter. I do it in a positive, non-threatening way. Some of them give me a right mouthful.

"In an ideal world I shouldn't have to go out and pick litter, but what is the alternative?"

Carol recently joined residents and council cleansing officers for a litter pick through the village.

In only two hours they had

collected 36 bin bags full of rubbish, which included car tyres, bottles and rude magazines.

Zoe Burns, City of York Council's head of street environment services, said: "We're trying to get the community to take pride in their local environment. We could do with more people like Carol from other parts of the city."

Miss Burns said they could provide garbage grippers, bags and high-visibility bibs to anyone interested in litter picking.

Poppleton councillor Quentin Macdonald joined Carol for the mass litter pick through the village. "Carol is an excellent example," he said.

"She is making a real contribution to the pride of the city."

Anyone wishing to join Carol's group can contact her on 01904 783523.

Updated: 11:00 Thursday, October 23, 2003