Organiser of the Seaton big clean Karin Frewin with Heidi Hallam (centre). Photo by Terry Ife ref mhs 9029-10-13TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.midweekherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24

Helpers turn out in force to tidy up the town ready for the holiday season

Some of the children that helped at the Seaton big clean. Photo by Terry Ife ref mhs 9018-10-13TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.midweekherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24

More than 70 volunteers turned out in Seaton on Saturday to help smarten up their town and beach.

The resort’s first ‘Big Clean’ was targeted on the seafront and shopping centre in time for the holiday season.

It was organised by the town development team, the local council and Seaton and District Chamber of Commerce, with support from district council.

As well as tidying up streets and pavements, the volunteers also weeded flowerbeds, cleared grass from paths and created displays along the seafront.

The clean-up was well supported by Seaton businesses including Pebbles café, who gave free bacon baps to the helpers and Newlook News which provided free hot drinks to volunteers throughout the event. Afterwards Frydays chipped in with free drinks.

Members of many local community groups including Axe Valley Runners, Axe Valley Pedlars, The Lions, Seaton Baptist Church and children from Seaton Primary School also went along to help.

Between them, they collected over 20 bags of rubbish from the beach and town.

The district council’s Street Scene team provided litter pickers, bags and cleared away rubbish afterwards.

Co-organiser Karin Frewin, of Seaton Town Development Team, said: “We planned the Big Clean with Seaton and District Chamber of Commerce and it was great to see so many people coming out to help with our first event.

“We’ve had fantastic support from our local shops. Everyone’s enthusiasm has been amazing.”

The Big Clean is part of a series of activities planned for Seaton this year as part of the town development team’s mission to invigorate the resort.

Amongst other key individuals who helped organise the event were Heidi Hallum, Kay d’Albertanson and Lucy Bennett.

* Seaton Town Development Team was established to promote Seaton, create an active town centre, set up events, encourage pride in our community, establish more attractive places for visitors and residents to enjoy and to increase awareness of Seaton, its businesses, its people and its natural beauty. By working together to share information and work on projects it hopes to make a difference.