A campaign to clean up outdoor spaces blighted by a build-up of litter during the coronavirus lockdown has been supported by the Prime Minister.

The Great British September Clean, backed by the Daily Mail, will call on the nation to ‘roll up our sleeves’ and clean up the rubbish discarded over the past months.

The closure of pubs and restaurants has led to a pile-up of waste created by outdoor gatherings in parks, on beaches and around beauty spots.

The Great British Spring Clean run by Keep Britain Tidy was postponed due to the Covid-19 crisis. It has since been renamed the Great British September Clean, where the campaign is again encouraging the public to go out and assist with the clean-up.

The Prime Minister told the Mail: “During the lockdown we have all felt more keenly the need to spend time outside, but with that we have sadly seen more litter spoiling our parks and open spaces.

“This is a blight on communities and our otherwise beautiful countryside, and so I wholeheartedly support the Mail’s public-spirited campaign. 

“While continuing to follow social distancing rules, we can all play our part by rolling up our sleeves and joining in the Great British September Clean.”

This is the latest in a series of environmental campaigns by the newspaper which in the past have included the Turn the Tide on Plastic scheme.

The Great British September Clean will run from September 11 to 27. 

For more information, or to pledge support, visit keepbritaintidy.org/gbseptemberclean