A COMMUNITY group collected 30 bags of rubbish in just two hours during a litter pick around the Hythe.

Members of the Colchester Civic Society took part in the clean-up last week, which was the first of a campaign the group has called ‘Colchester’s great winter clean’.

Five members of Colchester Civic Society were assisted by two residents to clean up Distillery Lane and the northern end of Haven Road, Hythe Quay, and King Edward Quay.

The 30 bags of rubbish were then placed in King Edward’s Quay for collection by Colchester Council’s street care team.

Over the next four weeks, Colchester Civic Society, Colchester litter pickers and other organisations will be conducting winter clean-up sessions both in groups and individually as part of the ‘great winter clean’ campaign.

A spokesman for the Civic Society said: “In less than two hours, we had cleared up 30 bags of mixed litter and many larger rubbish items including bits of car trim, plastic cones and barriers, a car battery, and a shopping trolley - just one example of how much hidden – and not so hidden – rubbish there is at Colchester's many grot-spots.

“We will get together again next week to tackle another grot-spot.”