People are being urged to take more pride in Hamilton and help keep the city clean.

Next week the Corporation of Hamilton will roll out a new campaign, “City in Bloom” which will run throughout May.

Officials hope the public will cut down on littering and join in the various initiatives highlighting the beauty of the city.

Hamilton Mayor Sutherland Madeiros, said: “This is just the beginning. We have already started painting and sprucing up.

“We’ve been doing small things like painting all the fire hydrants, putting up new fences on Front Street and trying to get gum off the streets are already in the works. But these small things add up and the city is already looking smarter

“We hope that this will encourage people to try and keep the streets cleaner. Comparatively speaking Hamilton is quite a clean city but we could do better.

“We want people to take pride in the city and we are trying to do our part so we hope people and businesses will do their part too.”

The campaign will include artwork throughout the city, themed store windows, and information booths at Harbour Nights. The Corporation will also plant 60,000 seedlings in the parks and street gardens, and distribute 20 to 30 new planters.

The Corporation’s vehicles will also have a special logo on them to promote the month

Another part of the City in Bloom campaign hopes to highlight the effort of Corporation of Hamilton workers.

The mayor said: “People don’t realise how much we do around the city from garbage collection, to keeping the parks in good condition to sweeping the streets.

“The Corporation employees work hard and have pride in the city and we hope people will realise that.”

Mr. Madeiros said the idea was inspired by Corporation members who had seen similar campaigns in the US. In particular Boston and New York have good campaigns.

He added the city could be much cleaner if people did little things like ensuring cigarette butts ended up in special receptacles being unveiled this month by the Corporation.

For more information on the City in Bloom campaign visit www.cityinbloom.bm.