A GROUP of kayakers and canoeists plucked more than a ton of waste — including 14 shopping trolleys — out of an Aberystwyth river in just one day.

With the support of Ceredigion County Council, which provided equipment and disposed of the waste, Aberkayakers took to the waters of the River Rheidol on Saturday, 15 July, where they encountered a staggering amount of rubbish.

Getting on the river at Glanyrafon Industrial Estate, the group of kayakers and canoeists travelled two miles to the harbour in a prearranged litter pick.

Using canoes as barges, the group collected rubbish from the banks and the water as they went down stream.

By the time they got half way down, the canoes were full and they needed to unload the rubbish at Penybont Bridge to await pickup by Ceredigion County Council.

The going got slower for the second half of the journey as they started to encounter bulky items like bikes and trolleys with more than an hour spent around Trefechan Bridge as they dug trolleys out of the mud and gravel.

Club member and organiser of the pick, Phil Stone said: “It was a wonderful day.

“We get a lot of pleasure from canoeing and it is great to be able to give something back. Many thanks to Ceredigion County Council for their support providing bags and disposing of the rubbish we have collected.”

After seven hours on or in the water, the group collected rubbish with a total weight of 1,040kg.

See this week’s south editions for the full story, in shops and online now