Volunteers collect 100 bags of rubbish during Leeds floods clean-up event

More than 100 bags of rubbish were filled by volunteers and community organisations who gave up their Saturday morning to help with the ongoing clean-up programme after December's floods in Leeds.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Jun 2016, 13:25 BST
Updated 5th Jun 2016, 16:03 BST
Clean up Leeds volunteers get to work. Picture by Simon HulmeClean up Leeds volunteers get to work. Picture by Simon Hulme
Clean up Leeds volunteers get to work. Picture by Simon Hulme

Members of the White Rose and Leeds canoe clubs took to the waterways to reach litter trapped in overhanging trees, while others picked up litter blighting the riverbank.

Canal Communitities provided a long boat and refreshments for the 30 or so volunteers, who included residents from Knostrop Quay.

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John Cummins, of Groundwork Leeds, said: “It was a really good turnout with the locals. We tackled a long area of the riverbank from the Royal Armouries going past the student halls.”

Clean up Leeds volunteers get ready to tidy waterways around the Royal Armouries, Leeds. Picture by Simon Hulme.Clean up Leeds volunteers get ready to tidy waterways around the Royal Armouries, Leeds. Picture by Simon Hulme.
Clean up Leeds volunteers get ready to tidy waterways around the Royal Armouries, Leeds. Picture by Simon Hulme.

The event, managed in partnership with the Canal and River Trust, is part of an ongoing river stewardship programme.

Teams from Yorkshire Water and Mott McDonald, an engineering consultancy with offices in Brewery Wharf, will continue the work with another session on Tuesday.

Mr Cummins said: “We’re trying to get rid of the debris left by the Christmas storms. It’s going to be a concerted efforts over the future months to improve the whole river and to talk to businesses and residents about flood resilience.”

Related topics:LeedsVolunteersYorkshire Water