Litter pick collects 50 bags of rubbish from river

47 minutes ago

Tom BurgessNorth East and Cumbria

News image — The Durham City Riverscape Community carries out monthly litter picks on the Wear

City of Durham Parish Council One of the litter pickers is kneeling on a surfboard while picking rubbish out of water with a grabber and putting it in a blue bag. He is in a wetsuit and has on a life-vest and helmet. — The Durham City Riverscape Community carries out monthly litter picks on the Wear

A litter picking group which removes rubbish from a river collected more than 50 bags of rubbish at their latest gathering.

The Durham City Riverscape Community formed just before the coronavirus pandemic to carry out monthly litter picks along the River Wear.

The group estimated it had collected tonnes of waste from the water since the start, including a large fridge earlier this year.

Lead volunteer Graham Hollingwood said the group was approaching the 1,000 bag milestone which "just shows how much work goes into protecting our riverbanks" and the "phenomenal" efforts of volunteers.

He said pulling the full sized fridge freezer out of the river was their biggest challenge to date but the team proved equal to it.

City of Durham Parish Council A man is holding on to a fridge while paddling a canoe along the River Wear. The fridge is alongside the canoe and the man is wearing an orange life-jacket over a red coat and a blue helmet. — The removal of a fridge from the River Wear was the hardest challenge the group had taken on

"None of this incredible progress would be possible without the phenomenal, unwavering support of the City of Durham Parish Council," Hollingwood said.

"Their funding, practical backing, and ongoing encouragement give us the resources and confidence we need to keep getting out on the water, tackle massive fly-tipping hazards, and make a genuine, lasting impact on the local environment."

City of Durham Parish Council A litter picker in hi-vis is stood on the banks of the River Wear with Durham Cathedral on the hill behind him. He is smiling and depositing a blue bag of rubbish on a pile near the river railings. — The group gathered more than 50 bags of rubbish this weekend

Clerk of the City of Durham Parish Council and co-founder of the litter picking group Adam Shanley said the scale of dedication from volunteers was "extraordinary".

"It is an absolute privilege for the council to support and stand alongside such a proactive, passionate team," he said.

"We will continue to back our volunteers every step of the way as they work tirelessly to safeguard the River Wear for generations to come."

Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram and listen on BBC Sounds.