Clean-up volunteers in Wythenshawe have teamed up with St Ann’s Hospice to mark the charity’s 50th birthday next year.

Wythenshawe Waste Warriors were hoping to fill 2,020 bags of litter in 2020 and surpassed that figure with the total number collected by volunteers across the area reaching 3,000 so far.

They now hope each bag filled in 2021 will be sponsored for £1, with donations funding patient care at St Ann’s which has been adopted as its chosen charity.

Father-of-two John-Paul Coe founded the Warriors three years ago when a visit to a local park with son Bobby left him upset by the litter and mess.

He decided to tidy up parks, woodlands and streets and now has a network of volunteers.

John-Paul, from Newall Green, said: “The Warriors would not have grown without the support of our volunteer partners to whom we’re extremely grateful.

“For us St Ann’s, as our chosen charity, is also a perfect partnership. We’re linking two great causes and hopefully the community will take up the mantle and fundraise for a charity caring for people from Wythenshawe and the wider Greater Manchester area.

“We’d like schools, businesses, scout groups and anyone else to sponsor litter picks for £1 a bag. Our message next year is ‘Deep Clean Wythenshawe,’ improve the environment and help a great local cause.”

To help promote their campaign, the Warriors have appointed Eamonn O’Neal as patron.

The Neil Cliffe Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital  is run by St Ann’s which also has inpatient units at Heald Green and Little Hulton.

The hospice also runs a range of community, outreach and virtual services for patients affected by life-limiting illnesses from across Greater Manchester.

To sponsor a litter collection visit justgiving.com/fundraising/john-paul-coe2