VOLUNTEERS lent a helping hand – and a paddle – to an unusual river cleaning operation in Bridport.

Canoeing enthusiasts of all ages joined John Purse from West Bay Canoes in tidying up the River Brit, helping wildlife in the process.

The group paddled from West Bay up to Palmers Brewery and then worked their way down the river, collecting several bags of all kinds of rubbish from the river beds and banks.

Speaking about the event, Mr Purse said: “Rubbish gathers quite quickly in the reed beds and there was lots of polystyrene, plastic bags and plastic bottles.

“We saw water voles, and starlings flying about there, so there is a lot of wildlife.

“It seems to be that every week the water voles are sitting on top of polystyrene and it’s getting in their way, and the plastic bags are a big issue, especially if they get into the sea.”

Mr Purse has carried out river cleans before in the River Stour, the River Frome and in the River Brit and usually tries to hold similar events twice a year.

He added that as a regular canoeist he also wants to keep the area clean to enable more people to enjoy the environment.

“The River Brit is the last checking point before rubbish makes its way out, really.

“The more you use it, the nicer you want it to be for everyone so you have to get (the rubbish) before it goes,” he said.

The river clean tied in with National Go Canoeing Week, a campaign designed to encourage people to get out on the water.

This year the campaign set a challenge to tie in with the 2016 Olympics, asking canoeists across the UK to collectively paddle the distance to Rio de Janeiro and back.

Mr Purse said that since he set up his company West Bay Canoes last week, his customers have already clocked up 50 miles.

If you are interested in taking part in a river clean in the future, please email Mr Purse on info@westbaycanoes.co.uk.