Irvine’s dedicated band of litter-picking volunteers joined refuse workers in support ahead of planned strike action by ceasing its regular clean-ups.

Irvine Clean-up Crew volunteers lent their support to North Ayrshire’s Streetscene team last week – ahead of the planned strike action being suspended on Friday following a renewed pay offer.

A spokesperson for Irvine Clean-up Crew said: “With strike action from GMB and Unite Unions at North Ayrshire Council planned for September 6 – we want to make our position clear. We fully support workers’ struggle to secure a fair and decent pay rise.

“North Ayrshire Streetscene workers are only being paid between £10.78 - £11.08 an hour, so we want to make sure that we are doing all we can to help their action. For this reason our volunteers will stop litter picking from September 6 until the planned action ends on September 14.”

Unite the Union announced last week strikes scheduled to take place are now suspended – with a consultative ballot of its members on the offer which it aims to complete by September 22.