A DEEP clean of Chard town centre has taken place...and people are now being urged to look after the town.

Council workers and people supplied by the probation service were out in force with mechanical sweepers to get the town sparkling.

An anti-cigarette litter campaign has been launched and Mayor of Chard Jenny Kenton hopes people will be more respectable.

She said: “I think it would be great if smokers could be a little more thoughtful with disposing of their butts and packs.

“Chard looks really good now with the beautiful flowers and some of the shops and buildings having a face lift.

“Cigarette butts are not just untidy but unhealthy as well. It would take just a few more steps to bin the butts.”

Anti-cigarette litter posters will now be put up and Ed Ringwood, Chard Town Council's operations manager said: “A lot of cigarette butts are thrown into the streams in Fore Street which can then end up in the reservoir. This then causes environmental issues down at the nature reserve.

“We are now asking all smokers to start to make sure cigarette related litter is put into bins.”

Councillors on Chard Town Council's planning, highways and transport committee, have thrown their weight behind the clean-up.

Cllr Brennie Halse said: “I am particularly impressed with the way people work so quickly on Sunday morning to clear up Saturday's night mess in Fore street.

“I have just walked by "The Minnows" pond - near Sainsbury's - and sadly there is litter floating on the water and cigarette ends by the seat. I shall clear up the debris in order to support this very important campaign.”

Cllr Tony Prior said the deep clean is necessary and should be done every so often.

He added: "Litter is filthy and offensive. Unfortunately some smokers think it ok to throw cigarette butts anywhere. I hope they get the message and behave responsibly."

Cllr Martin Wale said it would be unfair to give the impression that Chard is worse than any other town in South Somerset.

He added: “With our own amenities team we have, in the past, scored higher for cleanliness than all other towns in the district, when inspected but anything that helps to keep up these standards is to be supported.”

Your views on Facebook: Marie Coulson: “Good idea yes - but how long til it will need doing again? It won't stop people dropping more cigarette butts in the future.”

Karen Platt: “Just clean out the people that do it !! Disgusting. Same everywhere. Littering is illegal. Stop !!”

Katherine Cooke: “Have what they do in Portsmouth if your caught dropping a cigarette butt then u get on the spot fine.”

Lizzie Shiner: “Fine people on the spot! Most places you are fined £50 same with dropping litter as well.”

Alan Blasdale: “I'd much rather see fines on the spot being issued the same to all the peeps freely drinking in public in front of school kids.”

Tracey Curtis: “Most towns have ashtrays dotted about on bins we don't even have enough bins I would say there's more of a problem with chewing gum on the pavements.”