RESIDENTS of the Tamworth district converged on their local parks, riverbanks and streets yesterday to do their part in cleaning up the nation.

It was Clean Up Australia Day and participants of all ages turned up, armed with gloves and bags, determined to make the city sparkle.

By 9.30am, at least 20 people had signed up with the Tamworth Urban Landcare group to clean up the banks of the Peel River.

Shopping trolleys and treated wood were the main finds of the day.

Local businesses and community groups, including Wesfarmers Insurance and the Friends of the Tamworth Marsupial Park, were also eager to

participate.

Event organisers, however, were pleased to note an increase in families participating in the event.

“There have been lots of families involved this year,” Steph Carter of the Tamworth Urban Landcare Group said.

“There have been some mums and dads who came and got the sign-in sheets and the bags and said they’d bring the kids back later on.

“It’s been really good, quite a few families have come down for the day.”

She said this year locals appeared to be more interested in helping out the environment.

“There have been people up at Endeavour Park near Bridge St and near Paradise Bridge,” she said.

“I think there are more people interested and wanting to help the environment.”

Tamworth couple Jim and Daphney Mandel-Hayes spent the morning cleaning up the Tamworth Lookout.

The pair were assisting the Friends of the Tamworth Marsupial Park and Tamworth firefighters.

“Cigarette butts and can pulls are the main offenders up here,” Mr Hayes said.

“This is our first time doing Clean up Australia.”

Clean Up Australia began two decades ago and has since inspired more than 300,000 people nation-wide to participate in the day.