A CLEAN out of the River Colne has seen a bike, shopping trolley and five bags of rubbish removed from the water.

Eight people from Halstead, including town councillor Eileen Penn took part in the clean up on Sunday, starting from the Parsonage Street Bridge and continuing downstream along the Riverside Walk.

This event continued from the clean up on March 12 and saw people enter the water to collect the rubbish embedded in the river and the bags stuck in overhanding trees.

The group was equipped with a range of rakes, grappling hooks, litter pickers, a poop scoop and lots of bin bags with thanks to Halstead Auto Electrics, based in Parsonage Street, and Essex Wildlife Trust.

In one and a half hours they collected a bicycle, a shopping trolley, a round bin, a traffic cone and five bags of rubbish which included plenty of bottles.

The volunteers then enjoyed a cup of tea provided by Auto Electrics and decided to take part in a river clean up on the first Sunday of every month from 10am.

The next session will be on June 5.

Those interested in joining in and helping should contact either Jane Giffould via jgiffould@aol.com or Lisa Stenson on lisamstenson@gmail.com