Bermuda of its litter problem -- by collecting trash as he jogs.

Mr. Cook, who represented the Island in the international games in 1948 and 1952, now lives in San Francisco but regularly comes back to the Island for a holiday.

During his current stay he noticed an increase in the amount of trash left lying along the side of the roads and felt compelled to clear it up as he ran.

And, before he leaves on May 15, he is encouraging other runners and walkers to do the same.

The 67-year-old architect said he picks up garbage while running at home and felt he needed to take the same action here, despite the fact that Bermuda was smaller and less populated.

He added: "I picked up 15 bags of trash while running in Bermuda in an hour-and-a-half the other day.

"It was shocking.

"I know people are talking about educating passengers of cruise ships about not dropping litter, but this trash had nothing to do with tourists.

"It was 100 percent Bermuda trash.

"We need to find a way to stop Bermudians dropping trash, but also get them to pick it up.

"It was easy for me to collect so much trash in such a short space of time.

It would be a good idea if other runners and walkers did the same. All they need to do is take along a plastic bag to put it in.

"Bermuda is one of the neatest little places in the world. Pristine clean is its image but, in my opinion, it's no longer pristine clean. The garbage I was picking up was incredible.'' Mr. Cook, whose architectural work involves the welfare of the environment, said 70 percent of the rubbish he collected was drink containers. The next most prevalent piece of garbage was empty cigarette packets, then food wrappers.

He added: "I'm a businessman who happens to believe that the environment and sustainability are crucial to our world.

"Sustainability is very important to Bermuda. This is a very delicate little economy, where international business and tourism are vital, therefore it is very dependent on its physical environment.

"We need to start to clean up the world.

"Picking up trash is a very good place to start, so I would encourage every single running and walking club on this Island to do just that.

"It would not take that much extra effort.'' Scott Kitson, president of Keep Bermuda Beautiful (KBB), backed Mr. Cook's proposal and said everybody on the Island should get into the habit of picking up trash.

He said: "This is a great idea and exactly what the KBB is about.

"We are trying to get Bermudian people to take responsibility for the Island and create a sense of ownership for Bermuda.

"We want everyone picking up litter but, more importantly, we want them to stop dropping litter in the first place.

"Our focus is not on tourists and cruise ships, it is on Bermudians, but we are quite happy to make as many people as we can aware of the problem of trash and the impact it has on the Island and its wildlife.'' Mr. Kitson encouraged people to volunteer their services to KBB and said it was always in need of extra helping hands.

For more information about the charity organisation or to offer help, call 295-5142.