AUTHOR and countryside campaigner Bill Bryson has hailed Dorchester’s fight against litter bugs.

The writer has held the county town up as a national example for its efforts to stamp out the blight.

He had particular praise for its initiative to rid the streets of cigarette butts.

Mr Bryson, who is president of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), singled out Bob Kerr and Felicity McLaren from the Stop the Drop group and town crier Alistair Chisholm in the action group’s national newsletter.

CPRE member Bob, who is the chairman of Dorchester Stop the Drop, said: “It is an honour and I feel quite pleased about it.

“It is good recognition for Dorchester. If it wasn’t for funders and supporters, and people like Alistair Chisholm we wouldn’t be able to do what we have done.”

Mr Kerr added: “Bill Bryson is a nice guy.

“I met him at a seminar in London about six months ago. It would be good to see him come down to Dorchester and I’m sure he will in time.”

Bob and treasurer Felicity are leading Dorchester Stop the Drop’s campaign to fit bins outside shops for smokers to dispose of their cigarette stubs.

Mr Bryson praised Dorchester after his representative Samantha Harding visited Dorchester for a ceremony to mark the success of the scheme.

Mr Bryson, who visited Dorset in September 2007, said: “This trip to Dorset was to meet Bob Kerr and Felicity McLaren, two lovely people who dedicate an incredible amount of their free time to dealing with their local litter problem.

“They decided they were sick of Dorchester being despoiled by cigarette butts.

“They devised a scheme through which, by working with CPRE Dorset, their local council, the chamber of commerce and the local Business Improvement District, they provided over 70 shops and eateries with wall-mounted cigarette bins.

“The an initiative has significantly reduced the amount of cigarette litter in the town.”

Mr Bryson added: “Providing bins for people to dispose of their litter is an important part of the solution.

“I can’t thank Bob and Felicity enough for all their hard work.”

Stop the Drop has eight more cigarette bins on order and is chasing a dozen chain stores to fit the devices.