A kind-hearted group of volunteers have been making sure Gatehouse looks spick and span.
The Smiling Sweepers have been cleaning the streets and pulling out weeds to ensure the town is looking its best.
Mandi Houfe took on the task herself earlier in the year but was later joined by other helpers, with the number of volunteers now in double figures.
Mandi said: “We haven’t had a paid street sweeper for more than a year now. The council wasn’t doing it any more and I stood down as chairman of the drop-in centre at the end of the year.
“I was deciding what I was going to do as part of my contribution to the community so started cleaning the street. I spoke to someone at the council and they povided a cart and gloves.
“During lockdown, a few ladies were saying the bridge was a mess. The next day they were there cleaning it and things have grown from there.
“It was hard when I was on my own but when there’s three or for of you it’s amazing how quickly you can fly through things. There’s now a group of 11 of us as with lockdown and furlough, people have had time on their hands. Hopefully that will continue and now we’ve broken the back of it there isn’t as much to do.
“The group are planning to make a compost heap with some of the weeds they remove rather than send it to landfill, while they are also set to apply for funding from the community council as they look for a permanent place to store the cart.”
