A BAND of volunteers have pledged to give up their time to help with a clean-up operation in an Ipswich estate.

Settees and white goods are among the items expected to be taken away from people’s homes in the Queensway estate as part of the Clean up the Can event on May 6, in addition to other pieces of litter.

A number of groups and churches in the town have helped to organise the event and homeowners in the area are also being asked to lend a hand on the day.

MP for Ipswich, Ben Gummer, said: “This is a great idea.

“Litter devalues an area and affects the people that live there.

“I know myself from doing litter-picking rounds in Ipswich how much you can collect within very little time.”

Skips from Sackers Recycling have been donated at a cost price while Heart for Ipswich, a Christian organisation, has provided a grant to fund the work.

Speed-Style Auto Centre in Ashbocking is also supplying safety equipment and a van to transport recyclable goods.

Borough councillor for Priory Heath, Bill Knowles, said: “I am more than happy to get involved.

“The more help we get from within the community the better for us all.”

Steve Jay, a minister at Hope Church, added: “It’s really great to see different churches and organisations working together to care for our local community“.

“This will be the community helping itself, and we are making this possible by arranging for skips to hold the rubbish, and for them to be collected and taken away at no cost to residents.”

Volunteers of all ages are being sought for the project and they should meet at Nansen Road Baptist Church on May 6 – the work will take place between 2pm and 6pm.

Refreshments, gloves, high visibility clothing and litter pickers will be provided on the day.

If you would like to help, call Steve Jay on 07867 361091 or email steve.jay@hopechurchipswich.net