This weekend tens of thousands of people across the country will be donning their gloves and high-visibility vests, and with litter pickers grasped firmly in hand, setting out to Clean For The Queen.

But few of the volunteers will realise as they sally forth determined to tidy up the country ahead of Her Majesty’s 90th birthday celebrations later this year, that the patriotic idea was actually the inspiration of an American.

Melissa Murdoch, originally from California, but for the last three years living in Horsmonden, said she became incensed when she saw the amount of litter strewn along the roads as she took her children, 12-year-old Serena and nine-year-old Annabel, to school in Hawkhurst every day.

She said: “It was all along the A21.

“I’m thrilled to be living in Kent. I think it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, so to see the amount of litter was very upsetting.”

Mrs Murdoch got in touch with Country Life Magazine to see if they would help with an anti-litter campaign. The editor Mark Hedges was enthusiastic. Keep Britain Tidy came on board, and together they secured a grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation that enabled them to employ a professional campaign manager, Adrian Evans.

Pretty soon the campaign was mushrooming, with endorsements from such well known figures as Kirstie Allsopp, Ben Fogle, Boris Johnson and David Cameron. Eventually 100 MPs also signed up to the campaign, with support secured also from High Street businesses such as John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, Costa, McDonalds and Greggs.

The campaign has even featured in an Archers’ story-line on Radio 4.

More than 200 local authorities, including Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells and Tonbridge and Malling councils, have come on board and will be supplying litter pickers and plastic sacks to organised groups.

Mrs Murdoch said: “At the last count, there were more than 2,000 organised picks registered with us, but I’m sure there are a lot more planned that have not been registered.

“It doesn’t matter. What is important is that everyone just gets out and does a little bit towards the cause, even if it’s only outside their own house.”

Meanwhile Mrs Murdoch’s children’s school, Marlborough House, was one of the first to come on board.

Pupils will be out litter picking on Friday at the end of class.

Teacher Rebecca Reid said: “We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful area of the country, and this campaign presents a timely opportunity to remind the children of the responsibility they have to safeguard the environment for future generations.”

There is still time to organise your own event. For details, visit: www.cleanforthequeen.co.uk