A Wrotham technician is winning the war against litter and the Dutch are loving it.

Danny Lucas, 48, created his anti-litter app Littergram, which shares pictures and locations of litter, in an attempt to clear up Kent.

“It’s going really well, Mr Lucas said, “We have just over 10,000 users and it’s gaining traction.

“Seven other councils came on in July for the Love Kent hate Litter Campaign.

“All round it’s really good stuff. “ Mr Lucas’ vision incorporates a fight back against the stigma of littering, attracting the praise from the Netherlands, which is reported to be “absolutely in love with Littergram”.

But it’s not been plain sailing for the creator of the free app.

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The app doesn't cost users a penny to download or use

Just two months after its launch the startup was facing a head-to-head legal battle with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg after lawyers argued trademark infringement with Instagram.

The social network giant Facebook, which bought Instagram for $1bn (£629m) in 2012, attempted to flex its muscle against the little anti-litter app after the Wrotham business man received a letter on April 14 explaining he had two weeks to change its name.

The hugely popular Instagram allows users to change the effect of pictures with its unique filters before uploading them to a personal page to be shared with other users.

Mr Lucas, from Higham Lane, Tonbridge, pleaded with the boss of Facebook to drop the legal action in a David and Goliath battle of the tech world. 

In spite of an April 28 deadline to change the name, no further action has been taken against him.

Speaking to News Shopper Mr Lucas said: “Since May they have pretty much backed off.

“They have never contacted us directly.

“We’re keeping our ‘gram’ and we are carrying on as we are.”

Littergram was conceived by Mr Lucas’ pet hate for litter.

He initially vented his frustrations by sending postcards of certain rubbish spots to council leaders and executives and realised that something more was needed.