Buckinghamshire New University students from various religions joined forces to help clean up High Wycombe through a litter pick past some of the town’s religious buildings.

The students, belonging to the Christian Union and Islamic Society, did a five-mile loop from its campus in Queen Alexandra Road, picking up rubbish near buildings including mosques, temples and churches.

The initiative was part of Inter Faith Week, helping to build relationships between people of different faiths and beliefs.

The community-minded students were joined by Karen Johnstone, Coordinating Chaplain for the University’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy; Anne Bowker, chair of the organisation Wycombe Sharing of Faiths; and Rev Mark Macauley of Oakridge Baptist Church, in Oakridge Road, High Wycombe.

Items including cans, bottles takeaway food boxes and even cotton buds were picked up from the clearing route, which took the group along London Road, through Totteridge and back to the University via Priory Road and Desborough Road.

Christian Union Chair Caleb Joseph, 22, studying BSc (Hons) Sports Psychology, said the clean-up had provided a good opportunity to help the community and also meet other students at the University.

He added: “This was a great way for people from different faiths to work together and also socialise.

“Luckily the sun came out for us while we were doing the clean-up so it wasn’t too cold and we hope that the various areas we’ve cleared up are now much cleaner for people to enjoy.”

Sara Sheikh, 20, who studies BA (Hons) Business Management and is Head Sister for the Islamic Society, added: “We were all very enthusiastic and collected around 12 bags of rubbish. It was a great thing to do.”

Jane Bower, Volunteering and Societies Coordinator at Bucks New University’s Students’ Union, said: “This was a real team effort by everyone and in fact it was so sociable we barely noticed we were all working hard too.”