Volunteers prepared to give up their time to keep mid-Norfolk's countryside clean are to be offered cash in part of a new crackdown on litter.The region's most picturesque views can fall foul of rubbish carelessly strewn around, but now a group of campaigners are offering a financial incentive to keep our fields and country lanes neat.

Volunteers prepared to give up their time to keep mid-Norfolk's countryside clean are to be offered cash in part of a new crackdown on litter.

The region's most picturesque views can fall foul of rubbish carelessly strewn around, but now a group of campaigners are offering a financial incentive to keep our fields and country lanes neat.

The announcement, by the Norfolk wing of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), comes hand-in-hand with Breckland Council's plans for a major community clearup.

The Breckland Blitz will see families rolling up their sleeves to tackle litter in mid-Norfolk for a week, starting on March 1.

Lead by Norfolk-based travel writer Bill Bryson, The CPRE, has created a new fund of grants that will reward community litter wardens who are prepared to step up and clean up.

The group is calling for parish councils, resident's associations and other community groups to nominate someone to give their area a clean sweep.

Paul Wiley, CPRE Norfolk's anti-litter group chairman, said: 'Towns and villages are kept clean - it's the roads in between that are the problem; you see miles and miles of crisp packets, drinks bottles, beer cans and bits of plastic. And it's getting more prevalent throughout the county.'

Nominated litter wardens will be kitted out in specialist gear, including clothes, gloves and pickers, and offered an honorarium of �100 a year for the next three years, which comes thanks to funding from Keep Britain Tidy.

Mr Wiley added: 'It's a reward, not a salary; an acknowledgement of the contribution to the community.'

James Frost, director of CPRE Norfolk, said cleaner countryside could help the county's reputation among tourists.

He said: 'We're trying to encourage people from all around Britain to visit Norfolk but when they get here they find a countryside that's littered and it's an enormous shame.

'Our president Bill Bryson moved to Norfolk for the beautiful countryside and it seems such a shame to him that we can't look after it.

'It's down to volunteers and groups to get out there and do their bit to clear it up.'

Councils or groups that are interested should download an application form from the CPRE Norfolk website, www.cprenorfolk.org.uk, or telephone Paul Wiley on 01263 713572 for further details, before the closing date of March 22.