NINETY bags of rubbish were collected in Wivenhoe when community groups worked together.

The effort was part of the Great British Spring Clean sponsored by Keep Britain Tidy.

It included the Wivenhoe Rivercare Group, Wivenhoe Canoe and Kayak Club, the Wivenhoe Society, students from Essex University's vTeam, Tesco Hythe and Highwoods' staff plus residents.

Armed with litter picks, rubbish sacks and a skip provided by Eastern Waste Disposal, the 80 volunteers got to work on the riverside - cleaning litter from Wivenhoe to the Hythe - but also taking to the water to clear along the Roman River.

Litter picks along the river are completed twice a year, but this was the first time organisations combined their resources in such a way.

Bruce Langley, Wivenhoe Rivercare team leader, said: "The Wivenhoe Canoe and Kayak Club carried out a water borne clean up of the Roman River collecting three wheels amongst other things.

"As well as the 90 bags of rubbish we collected a motorbike.

"It was an absolutely brilliant day but there's still some work to do as we were unable to clear the whole of the riverbank.

"I'd like to say a huge thanks to Eastern Waste Disposal and all who supported with this event, which hopefully we can build on in the future."