Environment Minister Alex Attwood did his bit to help improve the local environment. Along with a team from the Department of the Environment and the Belfast Hills Partnership, the Minister helped to remove litter and rubbish from the picturesque Colin Glen Forest Park.

The clean-up is part of Tidy Northern Ireland’s annual BIG Spring Clean and the volunteers worked hard to help clean up the area and improve the environment and surroundings of the park.

The BIG Spring Clean last year attracted 13000 volunteers who collected over 120 tonnes of rubbish in one week. Sponsored by the Department of the Environment’s Rethink Waste campaign, this year’s BIG Spring Clean should produce even more waste as the initiative has been extended to one month. .

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Commenting during the clean-up, Alex Attwood said: "Many of our most picturesque and beautiful areas are spoiled by litter and waste – fast food cartons, plastic bags, drinks cans – can be found in too many places. My aim is make Northern Ireland a green and a clean area that we can be proud to show off to tourists and other visitors.

"I fully support initiatives like BIG Spring Clean, which can make such a significant contribution to making our environment more attractive and am enjoying getting involved.

"The Clean Neighbourhood Act which came into force this month will support local councils in preventing littering in their areas. What I and my department are about is making Northern Ireland a better place to live, work and invest. Activities that take place during BIG Spring Clean will make a substantial contribution to that effort."

(CD/GK)