Nine members of the group spent an hour-and-a-half collecting rubbish from around the town as part of the Big Tidy Up, run by Keep Britain Tidy throughout September.

A total of 13 bags were filled with various items of rubbish, including sweet papers, cardboard cartons and packaging, drink cans, polythene bottles, and glass bottles.Even an abandoned office chair was discovered.

The group carried out the clear-up on Swinneyford Road, Buckingham Way, Belle Baulk, and Brackley Road.

Pat Trede, president of Towcester WI, said they were amazed at the amount of rubbish the group had found.

She said: "You do get a bit surprised when you walk along and think the place looks fairly clean but then you see rubbish under the bushes and around children's play areas."

South Northants Council provided grab sticks and strong gloves and the rubbish was taken to the household waste recycling centre.

The results are being sent to the Keep Britain Tidy campaign office to add to the national total, which already stands at around 10,000 bags collected.