A LOCHSIDE church official is keeping busy during lockdown by religiously scouring the streets of Luss for litter.

Local man John Taylor has taken on the duty of unofficial community warden for the Loch Lomond village while on secondment from Luss Parish Church, where he is the beadle.

Working four days a week, with his salary being met by Luss Estates, John has already made a difference to the appearance of the area, according to residents.

“As a neighbour of John’s I think that he is definitely the man for the task,” said villager Alyson Walker.

“I can already see a big improvement in the village and I am sure he will do an amazing job going forward.”

One of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, there are ongoing issues in Luss with litter and maintenance of public areas.

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John said: “My job will be to keep the place looking beautiful, the verges clear of weeds, the paths swept, the litter placed in bins, a lick of paint here and there, that sort of thing.

“Sadly, the authorities who are meant to do this kind of thing no longer seem able to cope, or even to take much interest, so I suppose it’s up to the folk who live in places like Luss to look after them and cherish them.

“I do sometimes wonder what foreign visitors must think of us - you look at all the litter and filth and you have to wonder what on earth goes through the minds of people who do this.

“But I am delighted to be playing my part, and if I can make even a small difference to the overall impression of Luss and improve things for visitors, I will have done my job.”

Simon Miller, chief executive of Luss Estates, said: "John will be doing the 101 little things that will make a really big difference - I can’t wait to see the results.”

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