Volunteer litter-pickers out in force last weekend say they will keep "fighting the good fight" against dirty streets around the borough.

Merton Matters campaigners were joined by Councillor Stephen Alambritis, leader of Merton Council and the council's waste enforcement team for the rubbish blitz around Mitcham and Morden on Saturday morning.

The clean-up coincided with a national 'Let's do it!' campaign, an initiative set up to encourage communities to work together to eliminate litter in their area.

Dan Goode, founder of litter campaign group Merton Matters, said his team collected two and a half bags full of rubbish from the short stretch between the end of Wandle Road and St Helier roundabout.

Speaking to the Wimbledon Guardian just two days after the clean-up he said: "The roads that we cleaned are dirty again.

"That's what we are up against.

"What we need to do is push the idea that people are more aware of their own areas.

"It costs the council £5m to clean up litter and nothing to put it in the bin."

He added: "There's an issue in Merton with litter so we just have to keep fighting the good fight."

More than 25 rubbish bags were filled by the 20 litter-pickers working around Ravensbury Park, Bishopsford Road, Wandle Road, Morden Road, Love Lane, Miles Road and Fieldgate Lane.

Coun Alambritis said: "Thanks to everyone who came out and took part in our community clean-up on Saturday.

"The council spends over £5m every year keeping the borough clean and it’s great to work with local Street Champions to show people that we will not accept litter in Merton."

Merton Street Champions' next clean-up event on Saturday, October 11, will focus on Wimbledon and Raynes Park.

Wimbledon's clean-up team will meet at Haydon's Road Rec and the Raynes Park team will start in West Barnes Lane, at the junction of Bodnant Gardens.

The clean-ups will run from 10am to 12pm.