LORRY loads of rubbish littering Ipswich are fast being cleared away as the MAD squad hits town.As the Evening Star targets fly-tippers in its Dump the Dumpers campaign, Ipswich Borough Council's MAD (Make a Difference) squad has got off to a flying start.

LORRY loads of rubbish littering Ipswich are fast being cleared away as the MAD squad hits town.

As the Evening Star targets fly-tippers in its Dump the Dumpers campaign, Ipswich Borough Council's MAD (Make a Difference) squad has got off to a flying start.

The MAD initiative is tackling eyesores in Ipswich's bridge ward.

So far the three-strong team has managed to clear three 17-and-a-half tonne lorry-loads of rubbish – some of which came as a result of calls from the public.

And last Tuesday alone, the lorry was filled with waste from the Wherstead Road and Old Stoke areas of town.

The MAD squad is currently paving over a section of trampled shrubbery in Maidenhall Green, Ipswich.

Mike Deane, the borough council's highways manager, said: "We have had numerous e-mails and telephone calls from members of the public about graffiti, fly-tipping, redundant street signs and overgrown vegetation.

"We are also putting manned skips at the rear of the Maidenhall Approach, Ipswich and in the car park of Vernon Street, Ipswich – this is for people to put in their rubbish.

"We are really doing all the things that don't normally get done under normal maintenance programmes."

Councillor Harold Mangar, portfolio holder for environment and transport, said: "This is a great start for our Making A Difference initiative in Bridge Ward.

"We are very pleased with the response of the public and with the Evening Star's help we can achieve even more.

"We will be working here until the middle of December and then coming back after Christmas. Making a cleaner Ipswich is one of our top priorities and we are determined to make a difference and improve the environment for all residents."

The Bridge Ward trial is scheduled for December and January. If successful, it could be extended to all 16 wards.

The MAD squad could even end up regularly descending on each of the borough's wards on an annual basis.

The MAD squad, which consists of a core team of supervisor and two tradesmen, is taking suggestions on what to tackle from the public.

Anybody who wants to report a particular eyesore can call the Cleaner Ipswich hotline on 01473 433000 or e-mail mad@ipswich.gov.uk

N Do you know of a fly-tipping problem area? Write in to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk or visit the forum at www.eveningstar.co.uk