A CITY-WIDE spring clean will be launched in York next month, including painting over graffiti, fixing broken fences and cleaning up litter.

City of York Council will work with York and North Yorkshire Probation Trust’s Community Payback team, which will see offenders take on cleaning tasks, and local residents join in as part of its Smarter York initiative.

The spring clean will focus on different wards each week, starting on May 7 in Westfield where overgrown land behind Westfield School will be spruced up. The second week will concentrate on Tang Hall before moving on to Bell Farm and then other areas on the outskirts of the city.

There will also be Smarter York events at Foxwood Community Centre on May 11 between noon and 6pm, Tang Hall Community Centre on May 18 between 10am and 4pm, Bell Farm Social Hall on May 25 between 10am and 4pm and at Oaken Grove Community Centre in Haxby on June 1 between 10am and 2pm.

Coun David Levene said: “This is a good way for Community Payback to really help York residents, and I hope people will be forthcoming in their recommendations of areas for them to tackle.”

To nominate an area in need of a spring clean, phone 01904 551551, email ycc@york.gov.uk