Litter pickers were up bright and early to blitz Huddersfield town centre.
Members of Huddersfield’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Association filled sacks full of rubbish, from drinks cans to takeaway wrappers, during their annual New Year’s Day litter pick which began around 8am following prayers at the mosque.
Plastic litters grabbers, gloves and bin bags were provided by Kirklees Council as around 20 people braved cold weather to collect litter on New Street, Westgate and around Market Place. They filled several sacks over a period of around two hours.
The youngest litter picker was Mo, 10, from Huddersfield, who was passionate about protecting the environment.
While collecting litter, he wondered why it was there in the first place, saying: “I thought ‘why is it so dirty – why are there chips on the floor?’ People could help by doing litter picking, using bins and recycling things.”
Huddersfield litter picker Mo, 10, has urged others to keep the town centre tidy
The eldest, Mohammed Tahir, 77, said ‘cleanliness’ was an important part of his faith and this extended from keeping the home tidy and the town in general. “It’s our duty to keep it clean,” he added.
Fatihul-haq, external affairs secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association Huddersfield, said the town centre looked ‘spotless’ after the event. He added: “Our goal is to foster community spirit, instil positive values in our younger generation, and raise awareness about the importance of collective efforts in maintaining a healthy, clean, and harmonious environment.
“We firmly believe that through love, dialogue, and mutual respect, we can build a society that thrives on peace and understanding. This event is part of our wider commitment to serving humanity under our community’s motto: ‘Love for All, Hatred for None.’
“During the Christmas period, we extended our support by visiting care homes and distributing food to those in need, and we hope to continue such goodwill in the New Year.”
The New Year’s Day litter pick has been an annual event for around 15 years.
Members of Huddersfield’s Ahmadiyya Muslim Association taking part in a clean up in the town centre on New Year’s Day
(Image: Yorkshire Live)
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