A DAD and daughter duo have teamed up to tackle the area’s waste after getting fed up of rubbish plaguing their dog walks.

Levi Harris, who runs Colchester Budget Skips, decided to take matters into his own hands after feeling frustrated about the state the countryside kept being left in.

So, alongside his daughter Kysha, six, and his girlfriend, they obtained litter-picking equipment online and began their own mission to clean up the area.

“My girlfriend is all about animals and I guess it began to rub off on me,” said Mr Harris, who lives in Greenstead Road, Colchester.

“We take the dogs on long walks all the time and Salary Brook is particularly bad. A lot of the young people use those fields to hang out and there’s always smashed glass bottles down there and a load of rubbish.

“We love to walk around here, Dedham, Ardleigh and all the really nice spots on our doorstep, so used to get annoyed at how much litter there is.

“While driving the lorry for work I always see people chucking their rubbish out their car windows and it really annoys me.

“When people litter, it’s basically throwing rubbish on the animals’ ground – how is this fair? They were there before us and now they have to suffer inconsiderate people trashing their homes.

“The animals will always be out eating grass, it’s so easy for them to cut their faces on smashed glass.

“It’s really bad in Dedham especially as it’s so busy there now. For three to four months a year now it’s crazily busy on the fields.

“If people can take their rubbish out with them, then they can pick it up and take it to a bin too.”

Inspired by her dad, Kysha decided she wanted to get a litter-picker of her own and get involved.

“It’s been really enjoyable having Kysha help me, she loves it,” added Mr Harris.

“When I was young, I can’t remember doing something like this and I really enjoy seeing my little girl doing it.

“It’ll go a long way as she’ll go back to school, tell people what she’s done and hopefully it’ll help the children stop each other from littering.

“People need to start taking more responsibility and I hope what I’m doing will empower others to do the same.”