Several community-spirited volunteers took to the banks of the River Wye on Wednesday, June 21st, after a large amount of litter had been left there the previous night.

Beer and cider cans, alcohol bottles, sweet packets, plastic cups, and a John Kyrle High School polo shirt were among some of the items that were left along the riverside.

Two local men, John Price and Roger Roberts, who going along the riverbank, picking up litter, commented that they frequently come across piles of rubbish when they walk their dogs in the morning.

They added that it is particularly bad after a weekend, the area is quite often covered in litter, and glass bottles are frequently smashed against the bridge.

Another group of litter pickers, who had also collected several bin bags filled with rubbish, pointed out that one of the haybales had been unravelled.

A parent whose son visits the riverside with his friends, told the Gazette that a group of students at John Kyrle High School had seen a man, approximately 20 years old, who had turned up at the riverside with a trolley load of rubbish, which he tipped out on to the riverbank before throwing the trolley itself into the river.

However, some local residents believe that some of the litter had been left by local youngsters.

A local woman contacted the Gazette on Wednesday morning, to say that the night before she had seen teenagers, which she estimated were aged 14 to 16, who had been hanging around the river side. However, when she reminded them to take their litter home with them, they became abusive towards her.