LATE-NIGHT litter picks are being hailed a success.

Colchester Council’s street care team has introduced an extra set of litter pickers in the town centre as part of its involvement with the Night Time Economy pledge.

The pledge was signed by Colchester police, the council, Colchester Club and Pub Watch, Open Road – on behalf of the SOS bus – and the Colchester Street Pastors.

The aim was to work together to improve the town, making it a cleaner, more pleasant and therefore safer place for people to go out in at night.

It is hoped that this will encourage people, particularly older people, to stay in the town later into the evening.

One of the actions includes teams of litter pickers on the streets between 11pm and 2am on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

The teams come back to do the 4am clean-up, but the idea is to keep the town looking nicer throughout the night.

The first late-night picks began on December 4, and they seem to be having the desired effect.

Dave McManus, waste and transport manager for Colchester Council, said: “The town is definitely cleaner, which in turn makes it safer.

“We are all pleased with how the scheme is going so far.”

The extra litter pickers will be on the streets up to and including New Year’s Eve.