A bike, a scooter and a trolley were among the piles of rubbish sifted from the River Dour.

Some 20 volunteers pitched in to help, including staff from Affinity Water. They all wore waders and used litter pickers to carry out the task.

The rubbish included branches and debris, but a lot of it was believed to have been litter dumped by the district’s fly-tippers.

The river’s state was described as “unsightly” and the rubbish collected filled 40 bags.

White Cliffs Countryside Partnership Officer (WCCP), Paul Sampson said: “It’s essential to keep the river clean and the volunteers do a great job. “If we did not have regular clean-ups then the water would not remain as clear as it is and an important chalk river habitat would be lost.

“We can now see brown trout breeding well in the Dour, showing that we have a healthy river that can support a wide range of wildlife. “It is thanks to the volunteers’ great efforts that the habitat’s restoration work can continue year on year.”

Asset manager, from Affinity Water, Ian McAthy was shocked at the amount of litter collected by volunteers.

He said: “It was everything from a bicycle and scooter to a large television and a supermarket trolley. If the river was not regularly cleaned up then it would soon become unsightly and it’s a pity that people do not take a moment to think before dumping their rubbish in the river.”

“When you work every day with water you realise the importance of our rivers and springs. The Dour is the only river in the area and we need to make sure it remains in good shape.”

WCCP organises clean-ups of the Dour on a regular basis.

The next river clean-up will be on Friday, October 31. To join in, contact Sue Bradford at the WCCP on: 01304 241806.