SHOPKEEPERS in St Peter's Quarter are the latest to take part in the Telegraph's Clean Up Derby campaign.
Staff took part in an early-morning litter-pick to ensure the area was looking tidy ahead of customers arriving.
They were joined by a team of rangers and Derby City Council's Streetpride team.
Armed with litter-pickers, gloves and bags, they met at 7am yesterday and split into groups to collect rubbish.
Among the businesses that took part was the McDonald's branch in St Peter's Street.
Manager Jo Radford said: "We recognise that working in a clean area makes good business sense as it increases the feel-good factor amongst customers and encourages them to return.
"We therefore wanted to take this opportunity to spread the net wider across the St Peter's Quarter to show that we take our responsibilities seriously and hopefully encourage other businesses to do the same."
Helen Wathall, from G Wathall and Son funeral directors, in Macklin Street, said: "Keeping the area clean in turn makes it safer and a better place to live and work. It therefore creates a stronger community bond with a common aim."
The Rev David Downing, from the Central United Reformed Church in Becketwell Lane, also took part.
He said: "This is more than just a tidy-up of the area, it is about bringing people together with positive actions to create a better environment."
Stephen Jeffery, board chairman of the St Peter's Quarter, which drives forward activities under the area's Business Improvement District status, added: "This initiative shows just what can be achieved by people coming together under a Business Improvement District for the greater good.
"Keeping our streets free from litter is everyone's responsibility and I hope that this early-morning initiative will have highlighted the issue to businesses and visitors alike."
The Clean Up Derby campaign was launched in November and scores of readers have already told us about problem areas of the city, which we have then helped to be tidied.
These have included Friar Gate, parts of Alvaston, the car park of the William Caxton pub in Sunny Hill and a disused Rolls-Royce car park in Nightingale Road.
The campaign has received backing from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, Derby City Council and Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce.
