THREE sisters and their friends raised more than £600 and helped clean up parts of Lydney in the process.

Nancy, Tess and Rose Geoghegan came up with the idea for a litter pick as part of a ‘Challenge Week” at Lydney Church of England Primary School.

Pupils were asked for fund-raising ideas for the Friends of Lydney C of E group who looking to buy playground equipment.

Nine-year-old Nancy, Tess, eight, and five-year-old Rose thought a litter pick would be a great idea, said mum Chloe.

She added: “Raising money by tidying our town really appealed to them.

“To encourage more people to donate, we helped the girls to create their own online sponsorship page and their dad shared it using social media.

“They also created leaflets which they handed out during the litter pick itself, with a QR code that took people straight to the donation website when it was scanned.

“We took the girls to the Forest of Dean Council offices in Coleford to borrow the equipment we needed: high-vis jackets, litter pickers, waste bags and special hoops for holding them open.”

Two friends from school, Lilly Farr, who is 10 and her five-year-old sister Violet joined them on the day to collect litter from around Lydney Lake and the Church Road area.

They worked hard and collected five bags of rubbish.

Mrs Geoghagen said: “There was a lot of excitement when two paramedics in a passing ambulance gave a big toot-toot of support and encouragement. “When they passed Lydney Bowls Club the gents had a whipround.

“The weirdest thing they found was dentures, which sent the girls into fits of giggles.”

“The leaflets they created made their way into Lydney Cricket Club, where lots of kind people sent money.

“They can’t thank enough everyone who donated, many of whom were complete strangers.