CLEAN-UP volunteers have been busy on the banks of the Thames in Thurrock recently - and there are more litter and plastic picks to come in the next few weeks, starting with a pick in West Thurrock on Tuesday (22 March).

River action clean-up facilitator, Grays-based Steve Catchpole, reports on recent activities, saying: "We have held a few litter picks this month. At the Concrete Barges we witnessed large quantities of plastic washed onto the reed-beds and also on the pathway above. The four of us filled 80 sacks with 3,660 plastic bottles.

"Unfortunately, we were unable to pick the other pieces of large and small plastic pieces, so I have arranged a repeat event on Saturday, 26 March. If you are available, please come and help us clear the rest of the plastics from this stretch of the river.

"In contrast the recent Grays Beach event was well attended with plenty of help from Open Door SIP (social inclusion project). Open Door is for young people leaving care and moving on to independence. Their age range is 17-25, providing space for young adults to socialise and learn new skills such as: budgeting, cooking, cleaning etc. They also like to get involved within the community by supporting litter picks and other community projects.

"On this occasion we filled 20 sacks including 87 plastic bottles.

"In Tilbury a small group of us collected 15 sacks including 250 plastic bottles while viewing the latest Virgin Cruise ship. On one of our previous litter picks at Tilbury we collected plastics that were used in making a large vase that is on display in the cruise ship to raise awareness of plastics in the ocean".

Future events include

Tuesday 22 March - Friends of North Thames Estuary - meeting at the old St Clements Church, West Thurrock RM20 4AL - 10:30 to 13:30. If you have your own equipment, picker, hoop, gloves and sturdy walking shoes, please bring them. The group will be walking to at least the first pill box which is more than a mile from the carpark picking river rubbish from along the Graffiti Wall - no facilities available.

Saturday, 26 March - Friends of North Thames Estuary - meeting at Riverside Carpark, Coldharbour Lane, Rainham, RM13 9YB (before landfill security building) - 10:30 to 13:30. If you have your own equipment, picker, hoop, gloves and wellingtons or sturdy walking shoes, please bring them. The group will be collecting river rubbish from the reed beds on the Thames foreshore – no facilities available.

Sunday, 3 April - Friends of Grays Beachcombers - meeting at Thurrock Yacht Club, Grays RM17 6JF at 10:30 until 12:00. Foreshore tidy. If you have your own equipment, picker, hoop or gloves please bring them.

Saturday, 9 April – Friends of North Thames Estuary - meeting at The Wharf Pub, Grays RM17 6NR - 13:30 to 15:30. If you have your own equipment, picker, hoop, gloves and sturdy walking shoes, please bring them. The group will be walking at least one mile collecting river rubbish along the foreshore - limited facilities available.