When granddad David Saunders spotted supermarket trolleys dumped in a creek while on his regular shop five years ago he decided to take action.

The retired policeman got in touch with supermarket giants Morrisons, a conservation group and the council and organised a mass clean-up.

Conservationists have pulled out 25 trolleys from the river near Morrisons in Strood

Since then he has retrieved hundreds of abandoned trolleys near the Strood store and his mass haul has been handed over to scrap merchants.

The 70-year-old conservationist – who does not profit from the "pull" - oversaw his latest operation at an area known as Jane's Creek on the River Medway on Wednesday morning. July 20

He was joined by helpers from Medway and Swale Estuary Partnership, Medway Council's environmental team and support from Morrisons. The council's contractors Norse supplied ropes and grappling hooks.

Last year's "pull" recovered 76 trolleys, five hand baskets, two children's bikes and scaffolding which were given to a scrap dealer.

David, who lives in Chattenden, was hopeful he would achieve a similar result during Wednesday's river sweep. But a lack of volunteers meant they only salvaged 25. He is hoping to return at the weekend in an attempt to get some of the 40 plus trolleys remaining in the waterway.

He said:"I was on a shopping trip when I saw the rubbish dumped in the creek and thought this is totally unacceptable.

"I'm doing this for my granddaughter Ivy.

"Why should she inherit a world polluted with plastic and rubbish?"

Six-year-old Ivy is an eco-ambassador at her school and accompanies her grandfather on rubbish cleans on the Cliffe Marshes and nearby beaches.

Kerry Ashdown, a supermarket manager, welcomed the gesture and provided refreshments as the volunteers knuckled down to the task.

She said: "It was refreshing to meet David and know that there are people who care for the community.

"It brings the area down when they are supposed to be regenerating Strood.

"We get good feedback from our customers that something is actually being done. I think it's all down to local youths having nothing to do."

Peter Garrett, the council's green space and access programme manager was on his second clean-up at the creek.

He is calling for large retail outlets using trolleys to tighten up security so vandals are prevented from getting hold of them.

Mr Garrett said: "It's important to keep on top of this, but we shouldn't have to be doing this in the first place."

If you would like to volunteer, contact the Medway and Swale Estuary Partnership at Riverside Country Park, Lower Rainham Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 2XH. Call 01634 337432 (Wed – Fri) or email info@msep.org.uk