A LITTER clean up in around Abergavenny Castle brought unexpected joy for a couple living at the other end of the world.

During the tidy up event the team found a suitcase, which was taken to the local police station.

It belonged to grandparents Mr and Mrs Nation on a once in a lifetime three month trip. They had been greatly upset by the loss of their case. After driving back from London to recover it, they were over the moon to find their painting worth several hundred Euros, disks with all their photos and a portrait of their granddaughter were still inside.

"We were within half an hour of cutting short our trip and flying home when the police called us about our case. Now we're tip top!' said Jim Nation who passed on his heartfelt thanks to those who returned the case.

Also found on the day, which was organised under the banners of the Tidy Towns initiative and supported by a team from Operation Noah and the Scouting Association was a handbag, which the police were able to return to its owner, who rang and thanked the Operation Noah volunteer who handed it in. On top of crime busting, the clean up team of seventeen pulled out two shopping trolleys and filled eight large bags of rubbish. Cans, bottles and cardboard which filled four large bags were recycled.

The Scouts and volunteers from Operation Noah, supporting practical local action to affect global environmental issues, got stuck in making good use of litter pickers on loan from the One Stop Shop. The event was co-ordinated by 'Tidy Towns'; which in Monmouthshire is a partnership between Keep Wales Tidy and Rural Community Action/ MCC Together they offer support, advice and grants to community groups wishing to care for their local environment.