RESIDENTS of a new housing estate have shown community spirit and banded together to keep their area tidy.

People on the Ferndale estate at Brackenhall have created a community association and embarked on their first big clean-up after moving in about a year ago.

More than 30 homeowners spruced up the area after going round it and collecting rubbish, waste and other eyesores to put in a skip.

One, Debbie Jackson, said the rubbish dumping had been going on for about a year.

"There's rubbish from builders, rubbish from shops and people throwing stuff as they go by on the main road," she said.

"A lady actually caught someone doing it and got his vehicle. It turned out he wasn't even from round here.

"There are woods and we want to keep them clean. There are wild flowers and animals including foxes."

Dental nurse Debbie, 31, said further clean-ups would be held.

"We want to keep the area clean, both for the people who live here now and the people who will live here," she said.

"It's nice and new and clean - and we are determined to keep it like that."