Even vehicles get the chopin Yapton's mega clean-up

They got rid of ten dumped and burnt out cars as well as picking up numerous pieces of litter on Monday morning.

The rubbish swoop took place on the field behind The Millers. It was run with help from West Sussex and Arun councils, Sussex Police and neighbouring farmer Richard Hocking.

The county council arranged for SRC, its abandoned vehicle contractor, to take away the dumped cars. Arun used its cleansing contractor, Verdant, to remove rubbish that had been fly-tipped in the field. Local volunteers picked up the litter.

The clear up was the brainchild of Yapton resident Michelle Rodgers, who works for the county council's waste management team.

She said: 'We were really pleased at how smoothly the rubbish swoop went. SRC worked really well with the farmer and got everything cleared away just how we wanted it.

'The volunteers, Arun District Council and Verdant, all worked hard to clear up all the fly-tipped rubbish, which amounted to nearly a truckful.'

Cllr Frank Wilkinson, the county council's cabinet member for strategic planning, said: 'We were delighted to back this excellent community initiative.

'In partnership with borough and district councils, we have a West Sussex-wide commitment to clearing dumped cars within 24 hours of them being established as abandoned.

'At the same time, we ensure they are disposed of in a way that protects the environment. Dumped vehicles are a blot on our landscape.

'They make an environment feel threatening and they pose a fire hazard - all very good reasons for making sure they are removed as swiftly as possible.'