A SWEDISH fitness craze is sweeping the streets of Peebles clean thanks to a local runner.

Susan Gray discovered the latest version of Scandi-cool when she adapted her usual running style in favour of “plogging”.

A play on the Swedish “plocka upp”, meaning pick up, and jogging – plogging is simply the act of picking up litter while running.

Running and good causes have always gone hand in hand, and there couldn’t be a more on-trend way of keeping fit than plogging.

Susan told the Peeblesshire News: “I’m an ultra-runner so I run a lot in and around Peebles and see so much rubbish littering our streets and countryside. Although it annoyed me, I never really thought to do anything about it.”

That was until she spotted the new Scandinavian trend on social media.

Susan explained: “I saw a post on Facebook about plogging that changed my mind. I realised how simple it is to help to keep Peebles litter free – just stick some disposable gloves and some plastic bags in your pocket when heading out and pick up some discarded litter.”

The Peebles plogger only started her Swedish sweep up of the town last week and has already clocked up a number of miles and several bags of litter.

She said: “Last weekend, with the help of my mum, we collected six bags of rubbish on Saturday and four bags on Sunday. Saturday’s route was out the back road past Rosetta Caravan Park to the crossings, and back along Edinburgh Road. Sunday’s walk was a short section on Innerleithen Road.

“All the rubbish I’ve picked up is recyclable – cigarette packets, cans, plastic bottles, milk cartons, and I would say the majority of it has been thrown from cars. I know there will always be people who do this and I can’t stop it, but at least I can help in some small way to clear up the mess these inconsiderate people make.”

Plogging appears to have started around 2016, but is now going global, due to increasing awareness and fear over plastic levels in the ocean.

“By doing this, I can hopefully help to protect our local wildlife and environment and stop plastic getting into the River Tweed and eventually ending up in the sea.”

Susan is calling on an army of ploggers to join her in her plight to clean up the community. “I decided to put a post on Facebook to bring plogging to the attention of a wider audience in the hope that others might get involved.”

Susan has identified areas in need of a litter-pick up, including the roadside from Innerleithen Road to Glentress, the back road near Calvary Park and Kittlegairy, and one of the worst affected areas, the cuddyside between Dalatho and March Street.

In her mission to battle the litter louts and keep Peebles looking beautiful, Susan aims to continue plogging once a week, and hopes that others will now grab their trainers and a bin bag and join her.