As part of The Gazette's Litter - Let's Bin It campaign, we put the spotlight on a family which is doing its bit to blitz the rubbish.

A DEDICATED Tadley family has been tackling a large litter black spot with an army of its own small black spots.

John Hart, of Tadley Common Road, regularly takes his two young daughters Aurelia, six, and Dulcie, two, litter picking on Tadley Common.

But since The Gazette launched its Litter - Let's Bin It campaign, which asked readers to nominate litter black spots, Mr Hart said that an idea struck him to get his daughters dressed up as dalmatians to make picking up rubbish more exciting.

Mr Hart, 50, said: "It was just a piece of fun, linking the litter black spot and dalmatian black spots.

"We are hoping to eventually turn the litter black spot into a dalmatian spot, with the aspiration being a clean white spot."

On Sunday, February 15, Mr Hart, his wife Juliet, and Aurelia and Dulcie set off across the common to clear up some of the rubbish with help from a friend of the family, Maggie Philip, and her daughter Laura, 11.

Between them they managed to fill three large black sacks with a multitude of litter ranging from whisky bottles and beer cans to a plastic bag full of dog faeces.

Mr Hart said: "It's amazing just how much litter there is.

"This lot is probably just Saturday night's production. But it is reversible. We can get rid of it. That is what we are trying to do."

He added: "I am a great believer in civic pride. I think this is a beautiful common, which is degraded by foolish people.

"I guess I see myself now as the leader of the Dalmatian Brigade, and hope we can bring back beauty to Tadley."

Mr Hart said he would be litter picking every Sunday in February to try to clear all the rubbish from the common.

He added he would welcome support from other local residents, and that if people wanted to join him they could meet him every Sunday at 11am in the car park next to the entrance to Tadley Court.

If you know of individuals, groups or organisations making a difference to their local community by blitzing the litter, then call Jenny Legg on 01256 337421.

And if you have a view on the litter issue, write to The Letters Editor, Gazette Newspapers, Gazette House, Pelton Road, Basingstoke, RG21 6YD or e-mail editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk