GENEROUS Rotarians will continue their commitment to eradicate polio by asking the community to paint the town purple.

The Rotary Club of Easthampstead has been working with the Bracknell and Wokingham College and South Hill Park Arts Centre as part of this year's campaign.

Purple has been the colour associated with the End Polio Now campaign because that is the colour of the temporary mark put on every child's finger to show they have been vaccinated.

Planting purple crocus bulbs and illuminating buildings are ways that Rotary members use to help raise awareness.

Although there has not been a case of polio in the UK since the mid-90s, the society hopes to eliminate the problem worldwide.

Peter von Bergen, a member Easthampstead Rotary Club, said: "Local actions in support of a National campaign as part of a Global plan ... in the words of Neil Armstrong the first man to walk on the moon in 1969 'one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.'

"Ridding the world of polio would only be the second time a human infectious disease has been eradicated, the first being smallpox in 1980."

Easthampstead Rotarians Mike Beswetherick and Bruce Irvine travelled to India in 2009 to help local Rotarians immunise hundreds of villagers.

To commemorate World Polio Day (October 24) the facade of Wokingham College will be illuminated in purple.

On the same day, Easthampstead Rotarians will be at the Tesco Superstore in Warfield, collecting funds for charity.