Workers muck in at river clean-up

2:08pm Thursday 7th August 2008

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WORKERS got up close and personal with the River Thames as they set to work with environmental river charity Thames21 to clean up a stretch of the foreshore.

The 34 employees from Thames Water were tackling a stretch of the riverfront near Erith Yacht Club, off Manor Road, Erith, just down river from the water company's own nature reserve and its Crossness sewage treatment works.

Abandoned gas cylinders and a dumped washing machine were among the major items recovered, but most of the rubbish consisted of plastics such as carrier bags and bottles.

Plastic can cause serious problems if swallowed by wading birds and wildfowl.

Fish can also become entangled in plastic bags and die.

The stretch of riverfront next to the yacht club was chosen for the clean-up because it attracts so many visitors.