IPSWICH is today approaching the finishing line in its bid to become the cleanest town in the country.

IPSWICH is today approaching the finishing line in its bid to become the cleanest town in the country.

The town is a finalist in the Clean Britain Awards, organised by the British Cleaning Council, and judging has now finished.

Councillor Inga Lockington, responsible for the environment, said: “The council has responded to the views of our residents in surveys, on the streets and at roadshows and their response has been clear: they want a cleaner town.

“This council spends more than a quarter of a million pounds each year cleaning the streets of Ipswich and that is public money. “Most people do not drop litter but those who do our wasting everybody's time and money. We are making a real difference and whatever the result in the Clean Britain competition we can all take pride in the fact that our town has become a cleaner place over the past few years.”

In response to feedback from the public, the council set up the Cleaner Ipswich Hotline (01473 433000) and introduced litter enforcement last February.

Smoking bans by firms have resulted in more cigarette butts being thrown down in public places. There has also been an increase in rubbish from take away food being discarded.

The Council's Litter Enforcement Officers visited schools in the area before it introduced enforcement and have continued to work with schools to increase the awareness of the environment and to deter littering by pupils.

The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony at the National Exhibition Centre, Birmingham, on March 13.