A local woman who has been picking litter on her estate has had her efforts recognised with an award.

Sue Medcalf, from Lanner, has received a LiveWest Community Stars award which sets out to recognise extraordinary acts of kindness.

Sue has been tirelessly litter picking on her large estate in mid Cornwall for many years now after taking after her mum who was also known as the ‘litter picking lady of Lanner.’

The Covid-19 pandemic has brought the importance of community into sharper focus as individuals and groups go to extraordinary lengths to support their neighbourhoods and LiveWest wanted to recognise Sue’s tireless efforts to improve the community.

The LiveWest Community Stars awards run on a quarterly basis and include two categories.

Falmouth Packet: Sue the litter picking lady of Lanner (right) and her mother who also cleans up the area.Sue the litter picking lady of Lanner (right) and her mother who also cleans up the area.

One is open to individuals and the other to community groups.

The awards recognise the efforts being taken to benefit LiveWest’s communities.

Sue said: "It has been a privilege and pleasure to help other people and I am delighted that I along with the Lanner community have been recognised for a LiveWest Community Star award.

"I like to keep busy and, with lockdown, it has given me a purpose.

"My husband had a pretty bad year last year health wise so needed to stay close to home.

"He is on the mend now and has become my helper.

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"I like to keep the neighbourhood tidy with regular litter picking and the litter situation has definitely improved lately.

"Neighbours are very grateful and always thank me while out doing a tidy.

"Lanner is a lovely village so while keeping our little area tidy, we now go a bit further and do a litter pick while out for our daily walk.

"I'm sure I'm called the bag lady as I always have a bin bag with me!"

Mai Evans, Community Connector at LiveWest, said: "I admire Sue for tenaciously tidying her neighbourhood and being such a good role-model for the young people in particular.

"I’ve often referred to her as the Litter-Lady of Lanner."

Sue has also recently planted the wall of the surrounding playing field with cuttings from her own garden to brighten up the area, with neighbours bringing plants from their own gardens to add to the wall.

Falmouth Packet: Sue has also planted the wall of a Lanner playing field with cuttings from her own garden to brighten up the area.Sue has also planted the wall of a Lanner playing field with cuttings from her own garden to brighten up the area.

Sue continued: "It's beginning to look really colourful now.

"The wall belongs to Lanner Parish Council and although they do a lovely job at keeping it trimmed I along with other residents wanted to add a bit more colour.

"I'm very lucky to have a nice group of people living around us, young and old."