A child's bicycle dumped in a river is seen as a crowning despair for clean-up campaigners.

The pink bike was tossed into the River Dour at Barton Path last Saturday.

The image appeared on the Facebook page Another Fine Mess in Dover run by volunteer Augusta Pearson.

She commented to the Mercury: "Does anyone understand why our town looks like a tip all the time?"

Over five days, from last Sunday to Thursday, Mrs Pearson's husband Paul filled more than 40 bags of rubbish.

These were in areas such as Barton Path, off Cherry Tree Avenue, and the couple's own road, Branch Street.

Several needles, presumed to be used by drug addicts, were found in their street.

Trash in these areas had built up even after workers for Dover District Council carried out clear-ups.

Mr Pearson, 64, mostly worked alone during the five days but was helped in some cases by his wife, aged 69.

At Barton Bath, for example, Mr Pearson did heavy work clearing objects such as wood totalling about a ton and a settee, a shop till, shop shelves, buckets and paint pots.

Meanwhile Mrs Pearson litterpicked white bags full of beer cans and bottles.

Security gadgets off alcohol bottles were also found.

Both the couple are Dour Rangers, a volunteer group regularly taking rubbish and litter from the River Dour area.

Mr Pearson regularly carries out clear-outs of litter and rubbish in Dover, usually alone and sometimes with helpers.

Other areas he covers include Peter Street, Bridge Street, Frith Road, Charlton Green and the open space behind Morrisons.

Photographs of littering in Dover, and their clear-ups, are regularly shown in Another Fine Mess in Dover.

Mrs Pearson said: "We feel very passionate about the Dour and also about our lovely town.

"We have so much history to be proud of right from Bronze age through to Roman, Tudor, Napoleonic times and two world wars.

"I just wish people would throw litter in bins or take it home."

Other local clean-up volunteers include Rotarians from the Dover and South Foreland branches.

A leading member is Peter Sherred from the Dover group who is also a Keep Britain Tidy Ambassador.

Last Saturday they cleaned parts of Buckland estate and found strewn items such as condoms and a pushchair.