A RAMBLER who has roamed the county for four years has been commended for his commitment to making Bicester a better place.

Pensioner Mike Sargeant volunteered for the Bicester and Kidlington Ramblers in 2012 and while out walking decided more needed to be done about Oxfordshire's overgrown countryside.

So in 2013 he set up the Blitz and Klean group, dedicated to clearing the county's rolling countryside, as well as cleaning canal paths to make them nicer for ramblers such as himself.

He said: "When I retired I was looking for something to pick up and saw they were looking for people to start a footpath clearing group, so myself and few other set up the Blitz and Klean group in 2013.

"Walking is something I have always enjoyed, even as a teenager walking through the countryside, and last week we did a 14-and-a-half mile walk.

"If it wasn't for volunteers like myself clearing up, it would not be possible to keep the open countryside accessible."

The grandfather of one commits his time as and when he can each month to tackling areas reported to the county council as overgrown or in need of some attention.

Tony Murtagh, of Bicester and Kidlington Ramblers, said: "With Mike’s enthusiasm, membership of the group has continued to grow.

"Also, Mike has been able to give advice to other ramblers groups and there is no doubt that without Mike the footpaths in the area would not be so well kept.

"Mike has raised money to purchase tools and equipment and has arranged the installation of new gates to replace stiles on the historic 'Larkrise to Fringford' walk.

"Recently he obtained money for a brush-cutter and arranged training courses enabling some of his members to use it."

The Fringford historic village trail is the basis of the novel Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson.

The one-and-a-quarter mile route includes Fringford Manor and Ghost Alley, which feature in the trilogy of books.

The commendation was awarded to Mr Sargeant this month to mark his "outstanding contribution" to the ramblers' organisation.

He added: "The biggest project I think was the Larkrise to Fringford, which I secured an £800 grant for tools to clear the footpath.

"We go out on various occasions with about six to 10 of us usually, whoever is available as we are all volunteers."

For more information about the Bicester and Kidlington Ramblers see facebook.com/groups/BicesterandKidlingtonRamblers