A group of hardy volunteers from Stowmarket have showed their mettle by clearing over 50kg of waste from the banks of the River Gipping.

The Pickerel Project embarked upon its March clear-up in the wake of ‘The Beast From The East’, which contributed to heaps of rubbish strews across the river’s banks.

As part of the ‘Big Spring Clear Up’ by charity Keep Britain Tidy, the group collected 51kg of general rubbish along with 7kg of bottles and cans.

The storm also brought with it an eclectic mixture of four shopping trollies, a Mid Suffolk District Council brown bin, a traffic cone and a wooden sledge.

Keith Scarff, chairman of the Pickerel Project, said: “A sterling effort, and a big thank you to all who participated. If you are interested we meet on the first Sunday of each month at Wharfside House car park at 10am. Come and join us soon!”