Dozens take part in Derby river clean-up event

Dozens of people have joined forces to remove rubbish from the River Derwent in Derby following recent flooding.

More than 100 people, including school pupils, students and NHS staff, took part in the Big Derby Clean-up event on Wednesday.

Volunteers focused on the area around the city's Museum of Making, which suffered major flooding during Storm Babet in October.

The event was organised by environmental charity Think Ocean.

Alongside plastic litter, items pulled out of the river included a dishwasher, sleeping bags and an electric bike.

Think Ocean co-founder Noleen Marriappen said: "We've seen all sorts from the usual plastics, which people just throw away without any concern for the environment.

"We are really pleased to bring together some incredible organisations here today that are really trying to tackle the problem of plastic pollution and general climate action."

Max McMurdo, from Channel 4's Amazing Spaces and Tool Club, also attended the event.

"To see over a hundred people here today is reassuring that people want to do a good thing, it's almost as if the floods have helped put the rubbish in our face," he said.

"I think these festival-like events are what we need to do more of in the future and make it the more fashionably-accepted way of acting as a responsible human being."

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