STAFF at Braintree McDonald's joined forces with the district council for a mass crackdown on litter in the town.
The crew of 21 collectors gathered 40 bags of rubbish on Friday around the restaurant at Galleys Corner, an area notorious for littering.
Franchise owner Cherry Lewis-Taylor said: "It was inspiring to see members of the community join forces to take action on litter that damages our environment.
"Unfortunately, there are still a significant proportion of people who think it's acceptable to drop litter – it's everyone's responsibility.
"We wanted to generate awareness and educate people on how to dispose of rubbish properly.
"I'd like to thank all the volunteers and Braintree District Council for their hard work and setting a good example of what can be achieved if people pull together.
"It's vital that we all do our bit – everyone from local businesses to residents should make a commitment to helping protect the environment."
Aside from this one-off event, staff at the Braintree fast food restaurant say they also patrol the streets at least three times a day to collect all litter that has been discarded.
Phil Barton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said: "It's so important for local businesses and the community to work together to not only clear up unsightly litter in the area, but also to raise awareness and promote the anti-littering message.
"The events that McDonald's has been undertaking are a great example of what can be achieved when people work together to take pride in their local area."
