'I get up very early to keep Manchester tidy'

For 43 years, Ricky Rafferty has woken up at 02:00 to help keep Greater Manchester's streets clean, safe and tidy.

The 61-year-old road sweeper has worked for Biffa "come rain or storm" since 1982, taking his trusty multi-hog sweeper out at 03:00.

From helping vulnerable residents get home to checking on the homeless and making life more accessible for blind people, Ricky said his job was about much more than public health.

"It's part of my life," he said, adding: "I've always done it... I want to make sure everyone's safe. It makes a difference... and I just love it."

Despite the brutally early starts and ever-changing weather and road conditions, Ricky said he would not have it any other way.

"It can be cold - it can even snow," he told BBC Radio Manchester.

"But you get used to it... and I couldn't sit in an office all day - it's not me.

"No disrespect to anybody because everyone's different, but I'd rather be out here in the fresh air, whether it's raining or there's a storm."

For Ricky, there have been very few downsides to the job.

"When I clean an area and someone dumps rubbish there after I'm done, that's one of our hates, and fly-tipping.

"But apart from that, I just love it.

"We clean up after everybody and it's positive to see the changes we make.

"I like to see that end result."

He said it was a never-ending job.

"We can sweep this today, but an hour later it will be just as messy," Ricky said.

"And we always see different people as we go along.

"When we see vulnerable people - like girls, lads, coming home in the early hours of morning, I always ask if they're alright and just check on them to see if they're OK."

Ricky said it was important to look after people in his role.

"I've had to tell shopkeepers before that we have blind people in the area and ask them to move their rubbish from the streets and move signs outside their shops," he said.

"We see loads of people sleeping on the floors outside.

"Some could be flat out, but I always make sure to check on people as I go along... I never just go away.

"And if I ever see any trouble, I always warn people to cross over and avoid the area.

"That's not just me - most of the lads and ladies do the same."

Ricky said he often got a good reception whenever people saw him in his sweeper.

"Basically everyone waves at us every morning - doctors, nurses, students, postmen.

"And we work with police - they love seeing us."

Come hail, sleet or snow, Ricky takes it all in his stride.

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