One day's haul

IN A SINGLE day last week 20 shopping trolleys, eight cycles and even two sets of goalposts were dragged from the Grand Union Canal in Leamington.

It was volunteers from the Warwickshire branch of the Inland Waterways Association that spent a day clearing out the rubbish from the waterway after many boaters had complained of 'hitting something' as they passed through the town, Alan Tilbury revealed.

Less damage to boats

Murray Woodward, coordinating the work, pointed out that removing the shopping trollies and cycles would lead to less damage to boats, and though it was a good haul, he would prefer it wasn't there.

To give some idea of the amount of litter louts in the town, eight large bags of drinks cans and litter were removed from the towpath.

No canal at all

Peter Webb, who organises the work parties, complained:

"If you go on dumping things in the canal you end up with no canal at all, just a rubbish tip."

But of course it all rests with the local residents who simply use the waterway as a rubbish dump.