Man leads daily clean-up in his sister's memory

As I meet Trai Byrne, he's happy, smiling and getting ready to go out litter picking in one of the most deprived areas of Coventry.

He is autistic, non-verbal and has mobility issues - but for more than a decade the 27-year-old has been going out into his area and clearing up the streets.

And now, after the death of his sister Leanne, he is approaching the work with even more purpose.

Twice a week, about a dozen children join Trai and his mum Julie to clear up their neighbourhood, something that's given the family a focus for their grief, and young people something to do in the school holidays.

Leanne died in April, aged just 41.

Her family said she had had a troubled life, and they are now determined to make sure children in the area are steered away from drugs, alcohol and knife crime.

"We don't want these kids to go down similar paths or similar roads," her best friend Charlotte Turner tells me.

"If we can change the direction of even one of these children's futures, we're doing something good."

Leanne used to go out with her brother filming his litter picking, and posting it on social media, but after her death her family were unable to access her phone and recover the videos.

So, the family set about filming Trai themselves, and the children who come to help and now post updates on social media.

"We're going to finish what she started and we're going to do it in her memory," Turner said.

It has also become a chance to reach out to young people, offer them food during the summer holidays and to give them activities to keep them busy.

Julie says the litter-picking has been good for everyone.

"In [Leanne's] memory we've more or less carried on and Trai absolutely loves doing it," she said.

"He loves all the kids coming together and it's good for Trai's mobility, he can't walk very far but we've noticed that since he's been doing it he's lost a bit of weight."

As I walk with the children, picking up litter through Riley Square, people are regularly approaching Trai and telling him what a great job he's doing.

It is clear he has become a star in his part of Coventry.

"Everyone's giving their thumbs up" his mum continues. "They're shaking his hand, he's become quite well known in this area."

Larenz, aged nine, was among the children who came to Riley Square to help with the clean up, and says he wants to feel like he is helping.

"I help the community, help the streets and help Bell Green and then everyone can play out," he said.

Amara, also aged nine, says she is determined to make the work count.

"The most bags I've collected is 13 and I really enjoy doing it with loads of people cause they help me as well," she added.

The family rely on donations to provide pack lunches and drinks for the children who take part. They also give vouchers as incentives for the children with the most rubbish collected.

"It is a lot of work," Turner continued. "We start our morning six, seven, we go to bed at one.

"People see a minute video, they don't see the preparation, they don't see us making the pack lunches, the editing, it's long hours, but it's so rewarding."

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