Young people in Manningham have won praise for leading a clean-up in their neighbourhood.

Millennium Volunteers, with Manningham Youth Action Group, rolled up their sleeves to tidy up the planned St Mary's Community Gardens.

They led a cross-section of the local community in clearing rubbish and debris.

They hope the gardens are a positive symbol of the coming together of different parts of the community.

When the work is completed, hopefully by late September, the gardens will feature benches and a wall painted by local young people expressing their feelings and hopes.

Funding has come from the Bradford West Area Panel and Manningham and Girlington SRB.

The clear-up group included Millennium Volunteers aged 16 to 24, residents, West Yorkshire Police and youngsters from the Youth Offending Team.

Millennium Volunteer Naweed Hussain, 20, is overseeing the project.

"I think this is a fantastic project involving young people who are wanting to make a positive effort, from which everyone will benefit," he said.

The group is planning a poster competition for local primary schools to encourage children to keep Bradford tidy.

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, executive member for the environment, said: "I would like to say a big thank you to Manningham Youth Action Group, not just for doing a clean-up, but for showing they are taking responsibility for keeping their area clean.

"They are an excellent example of the sort of attitude we want to encourage in the community.

"Young people have taken ownership of a local problem here, and I hope the rest of the community will follow."