EX-OFFENDERS have cleared an over-grown, waste-ridden area of Walthamstow.

The probation service led the team of 15 to deal with the unsightly part of South Countess Road, last week.

Families living in the area had been complaining to the council about the overgrown, litter ridden site for many months.

The project was the put forward to the Waltham Forest probation team.

Police in Waltham Forest have said recently a number of knives and drugs paraphernalia have been found being stashed in overgrown areas.

All of those involved had been handed community service by the court after being prosecuted of an offence.

The idea behind community payback is to get ex-offenders to think about being part of the community and give back their time to society.