Army of litter-pickers to combat riverside waste

An army of litter-pickers has pledged to rid waterways of rubbish during a day of action on the Essex coastline.

Volunteers from 16 groups are due to carry out a series of targeted walks throughout Sunday to correctly dispose of waste.

Among them is kayaker Bruce Langley, 63, who said he was "annoyed" at waste plaguing the River Colne in Colchester.

"I want to make my river look as beautiful as it should be and provide a decent environment for the local wildlife," said Mr Langley, from Wivenhoe.

The event was organised to mark both World Rivers Day and the Great British Beach Clean.

Support from across Colchester and Tendring was pledged by groups including army cadets, canoeists and litter-pickers.

Mr Langley, of the Wivenhoe Rivercare Group, said it was "absolutely fantastic" to see so many people get involved.

"When I joined my local canoe club, I could see lots of litter along the river banks and bottles floating past me, and it just really annoyed me," he said.

"I really enjoy kayaking along the water, and so I get a kick out of making the river banks clean."

The kayaker said thanks to volunteer efforts, the Roman River, which runs through Colchester, had gone from a "terrible" state to becoming litter free.

"It’s just a really good thing to do to highlight litter picking. I really am passionate about keeping our rivers clean and clear," he added.

Mr Langley said all 16 groups would start their respective action at 10:00 BST on Sunday.

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