Hemel Hempstead three-year-old uses his lockdown walks to clean up the streets

A three-year-old boy from Hemel Hempstead has been using his lockdown walks to make the countryside look nicer by picking up rubbish.

Shay Flynn went to his local park in Boxmoor and was shocked by all the litter on the ground, and decided to do something about it.

He asked his mum for a bag so he could pick up the rubbish, but instead his mum, Nancy, bought him a children's litter picker online.

Shay's aunt, Kerry McCarthy, wanted to share his story and remind people to put their rubbish in the bin, or take it home with them.

She said: "We were at the park near his home in Boxmoor and Shay loves nature, he loves looking at trees and flowers and he noticed crisp packets and cans left on the floor, even though there are bins nearby.

"He asked his mum, Nancy, why don't people put their rubbish in the bin and she told him that although they should, not everyone does.

"He asked his mum for a bag so that he could pick it up so that other people that came to the park wouldn't have to see the rubbish. Nancy ordered him a children's litter picker online and he was so excited to use it.

"On Tuesday, he went for a walk with his mum and picked up litter while they were out, he also went back to the park and picked up crisp packets and empty cans there too.

"He picked up all the litter and said to his mum 'that looks better now mumma'.

"He said he is making it nice and tidy for everyone, I want to give him the recognition he deserves, and we are all very proud of him, he cares more about the environment than most adults do.

"Shay is part of the Catholic Parish and for lent he wanted to do good deeds, and litter picking was one of those good deeds."