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CNN Sunday Morning

Mystery Man Cleans Up Shopping Mall

Aired July 21, 2002 - 11:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: In England, tidiness is almost always a virtue. We have the story of a small town street sweeper, say that three times, who seems obsessed with keeping the area free of litter no matter the hour. ITN reporter Terry Lloyd stayed up very late to get pictures of a man they call "The Phantom."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

TERRY LLOYD, ITN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Shopkeepers in Northamptonshire have finally trapped the mystery raider who goes to work when everyone else has gone to bed. He's been caught on a closed-circuit television camera hiding behind a mask and a cowboy hat. But armed with a brush and bag, he manages to sweep up Brambleside (ph) shopping mall again, then escape without anyone discovering his identity.

The man who calls himself "The Phantom" even had the nerve to give the camera a cheeky wave.

When Pauline Tregidga found out she'd been cleaned out one more time, she also came across a note from the man in black.

PAULINE TREGIDGA, SHOPKEEPER: He says, "keep Brambleside (ph) tidy. Best wishes, The Phantom."

LLOYD (on camera): Well, what do you think he's (UNINTELLIGIBLE)?

TREGIDGA: Just to make us keep the place tidy, I think.

LLOYD: Is there a problem with rubbish around here?

TREGIDGA: There is, yes. With school children, they just drop their litter everywhere, and at night, when you come down after (UNINTELLIGIBLE) full of litter.

Well, he obviously doesn't want anyone to know who he is. That's why he's doing it.

LLOYD: But you (UNINTELLIGIBLE).

TREGIDGA: I am. Yes. Saves me doing it.

LLOYD (voice-over): Indeed, shopkeepers have pledged not to pursue their clandestine clear just in case they scare him away.

(on camera): So whether Brambleside (ph) has a street-prowling insomnia or a man with a mission to make take-aways tidy remains a mystery.

(voice-over): But local traders say if he's prepared to make a regular appearance, he's got a job for life.

Terry Lloyd, ITV News, Northamptonshire.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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