YATE residents and councillors got up bright and early on Saturday morning to do a spot of open-air spring cleaning.

The team, which included the town's mayor John Ford, wanted to spruce up the newly acquired public open space behind Cambrian Drive.

Back in December, Yate town councillors won their long fight to save the land from developers. They managed to buy the site for £35,000, and now plan to preserve this treasured green open space for town's folk to enjoy, both now and in the future.

Residents who had helped fight a series of applications to build on the land joined councillors at Saturday's clean-up.

Mayor John Ford said: "It was a brilliant morning, the best turn out we have ever had for a spring clean.

"We had residents of all ages, from eight to 80. I'd like to thank everyone who helped."

The team collected many bags of litter from the hedges and brambles, cleared the path right back to the kerb, adding about 2 ft to the width of the path, and cut back brambles to make the path more accessible.

The event marks the first phase of restoring the site for public use, with planting to follow, and further work cutting back brambles and overgrown hedges.