In the past they have been out and about helping to tidy up areas including the pathway leading from Prior Road to Callander Place, and more recently the "Rosie Roadie".

With the news that work to incorporate the former bowling green and pavilion into the general landscape of the Reid Park has been put on hold by Angus Council due to "staff shortages", and with the work not due to be completed until the summer, members felt they could lend a hand to ensure the area is kept neat and tidy.

At a meeting last Thursday evening, chairman Mrs Isobel Ross issued photographs of the site and said: "I have volunteered community council to go up and tidy the place up. I think it needs it to make it look reasonable."

During chairman's comments she expressed concern about the future of the Strathtay bus depot in Forfar, and reiterated the appeal by Tayside Fire and Rescue for more homes to be fitted with smoke alarms following two serious fires in the town.

On the former, Forfar Councillor Colin Brown stated he had spoken to representative of the bus company and, whilst the closure of the depot had been spoken about, it was not laid down in "tablets of stone."

He said: "They have bought this big place in Dundee which they obviously need to utilise for their own end, but all services in Forfar and distirct will not be affected one iota. There will not be one redundancy as a result of moving the depot, if and when the depot is moved.

"I think the main thing is there are not going to be any redundancies and the services are not going to be affected.

"If there is going to be no loss of services now or in the foreseeable future then it is not up to us where they run their operation from, as long as it's not affecting the people."

Mrs Ross stated that, although they could not look into the future as to whether there would be a loss of service, they would just have to wait and see.

She also referred to recent press reports regarding two serious house fires in Forfar.

"Luckily, there was no loss of life and I would urge anyone who has a problem with a smoke alarm, or who would like a smoke alarm, to get in touch with Tayside Fire and Rescue.

"I would urge anyone to give them a call and they will come out and inspect your house and install a smoke alarm. If you have a smoke alarm, then please check your batteries.

"It is amazing the number of people who have smoke alarms but, when the batteries start to 'chirp' when they start to run down, they take them out and don't put in a new one."