A small army of volunteers has given the city centre a spruce up in time for the summer season.

More than a dozen community groups and businesses, including a team from the Kentish Gazette, joined in The Big Clean, which was organised by the City Centre Partnership.

They tackled litter, graffiti, weeds, chewing gum and generally tidied up run down areas to get the city centre looking its best for the summer.

The blitz on Friday and Saturday was co-ordinated by city centre manager Philippe Esclasse who said it had been a big success.

He said: "It really is an example of community spirit at its best and I was very pleased so many people took part.

"We also had the support of Serco who donated manpower and machinery and a few businesses including Whitefriars and McDonald’s but it would be nice to see a few more retailers get involved in the next Big Clean in October."

For the full story and more photographs see Thursday's Kentish Gazette