Belfast City Council has issued a rallying call to communities and groups across the city to make a clean sweep in their neighbourhood as part of a city-wide competition.

The ‘Brush Off’ challenge is encouraging community, church, or youth groups, schools and individuals to organise a clean-up in their area to be in with the chance of winning some great prizes.

The competition builds on the success of last year’s challenge which saw more than 500 volunteers take part in clean-ups across Belfast.

And as the council area has expanded since April 1, Belfast City Council is hoping that even more people will take up the challenge this year.

Sam Skimin, head of Belfast City Council’s Cleansing Services, said: “There’s already some fantastic work going on in communities across Belfast as residents work hard to create a sense of community spirit and take a pride in keeping their streets and neighbourhoods tidy.

“This competition is about fostering a sense of ownership as well as us recognising the efforts of groups right across the city who are helping to make their local neighbourhoods cleaner, greener and safer.”

Anyone that organises and registers a clean-up between now and August 28, will automatically be entered into the competition with ‘before and after’ pictures being used to determine which cleanup has had the biggest impact on the local environment. .

Every entrant will receive a clean-up kit to encourage regular and continued cleanups in the area.

Prizes up for grabs this year include vouchers from Tesco and McDonalds, as well as travel vouchers from Translink, a lawnmower from Homebase, and one night’s B&B at the Holiday Inn.

You can register by calling 028 9032 0202 ext 5239 or email catcleansing@belfastcity.gov.uk

For more information visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/streetcleaning

Loughview Integrated PS pupils Elliot Bleakney and Eve Connery help launch Belfast City Council’s Brush Off competition. The city-wide competition is open to community, church or youth groups, schools and individuals, and encourages people to organise cleanups of their area with some fantastic prizes up for grabs.