Irvine’s dedicated band of litter-picking volunteers gathered up 1,180 bags of rubbish last year.

The heroic real-life Wombles of Irvine Clean-up Crew revealed their total for 2020 last week – after its 120-plus volunteers took on areas individually over much of the lockdown months with coronavirus pandemic restrictions putting a halt to most of the organised group clean-ups

A spokesperson for the group said: “Thanks to everyone who gives up their time to do this – you are amazing.”