BIKES, shopping trolleys and traffic barriers were all found by volunteers helping to clean the foreshore around the River Thames.

Around ten people came along to New Ferry Approach in Woolwich on August 22 as part of a series of clean-ups organised by waterways charity Thames21.

The event was part of the charity’s annual Cleaner Thames Challenge which saw other groups head to two locations in Fulham and the Isle of Dogs to help clean the foreshore there.

In a change from previous years, volunteers were informed of the clean-ups one week before via internet sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

At Woolwich, volunteers cleared away a massive 3 tonnes of rubbish.

Event organiser Alice Hall said: “They found four traffic cones, five shopping trolleys, two traffic barriers, about thirty tyres, two bikes, and three tricycles.

“We really removed lots of stuff.”

All those who turned up were provided with boots, rubbish bags, a health and safety briefing and support.

Thames21 claims its campaign allows people to make a practical improvement to the environment, while getting a rare chance to get onto the foreshore and get a new perspective on London’s waterways.

The charity’s river programmes manager Chris Coode said: “The four different locations gave people from all over London an ideal chance to get involved in our work and make a lasting improvement to the environment.”

Each year, with the help of around 4,000 volunteers, Thames21 removes over 1,000 tonnes of harmful litter from the River Thames, its tributaries and the canal network.

For more information about the charity visit thames21.org.uk