ANYONE who goes around picking up someone else’s mess knows it is not much fun.

Now imagine going out in all winds and weathers to pick up rubbish dumped by people who are older than you and should know better.

Every month, a team of young people called the Halcon Litter Picking Group goes around the Taunton estate clearing up fly-tipping and litter.

They were among those recognised at the 2014 Pride of Somerset Youth Awards.

Not only are they changing the appearance of where they live, week in, week out – but their nominator said they are changing hearts and minds there too, and that less rubbish is now being dumped.

Their nomination says they are ‘setting standards and behaviours for others to follow’ and their efforts have been recognised by the police, councils, the fire and rescue service and local residents’ associations.

The awards are run by the Rotary Club of Taunton, your Somerset County Gazette, Bridgwater Mercury, Chard and Ilminster News, Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News and local radio station BBC Somerset.

A prize fund came from sponsorship from the Rotary Club, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Somerset Cricket Museum and Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

Certificates were presented at Somerset College’s conference centre in Taunton, which was provided free by the college.

For a gallery of photos from the presentation night, click on the related links on this page and to watch video footage from the ceremony, which took place on March 7, see below.