A SIX-YEAR-OLD schoolgirl sparked a city clean up after she nearly burst into tears and told her mummy: “I don’t want to live in Southampton any more, it is too messy.”

Mum-of-one Hayley Donovan made T-shirts and enlisted the help of family, friends and strangers to sweep up Shirley after she heard the plea from her little girl Taiahna Elliott.

Hayley concocted the plan yesterday morning with sister Jade Walker and mum Pamela Ford and the trio spent the day gaining support from the community.

Armed with dustpans and brushes, brooms, gloves and 160 bin bags, the team took to the streets last night to clear the piles of rubbish built up following weeks of industrial action in the city.

The 28-year-old Coxford resident said: “We don’t even live here but we drive through all the time. I was absolutely devastated when she said that. I was riled and set to on a plan straight away. I do support the strike and I think they do an amazing job, but it is not fair for our children to live among this rubbish.

“I hope people reading this will just pick up their litter and take it home.”

Speaking from her home, little Taiahna, a Newlands Primary School pupil told the Daily Echo: “When we go to the park it is so messy all around. I am so pleased mummy wants to live in a clean town, she is very kind. I think other mummies and daddies should clean up too.”

Even a South African resident, visiting the city for just six months, joined in the clean up the popular shopping district.

Cindy Harvey, 75, from Hermanus near Cape Town, said: “I had to help.

It is just terrible to see England looking dirtier than the townships in South Africa.”