THE latest litter pick by members of the Grays Beachcombers environment group netted more than 48 sacks of rubbish collected alongside the Thames in West Thurrock.

The haul last week (Thursday, 15 April), which was collected and disposed of by Thurrock Council, included 248 plastic bottles.

This coming weekend (Sunday, 25 April) brings the chance for volunteer litter pickers to cross the Thames and collect on the other side.

On Sunday there will be a Covid safe pick on the newly approved SSSI site at Swanscombe Peninsula. This event is being organised by Save Swanscombe Peninsula and SEGS Litterpickers (Swanscombe, Ebbsfleet, Greenhithe and Stone) it starts at a11am and runs to noon.

Local litterpick coordinator Steve Catchpole says: "The postcode is DA10 0PP next to the rocks beside the road. We will be removing the rubbish that has been dumped on the marsh while keeping our eyes open for the rare knot bomb spiders! Or the even more elusive and critically endangered distinguished jumping spider - a species found in only one other site in the country."

The next litter pick in Grays is on Sunday, 2 May – meeting at Grays Yacht Club, RM17 6JF, at 10.30am but at the moment, due to social distancing regulations, it is fully subscribed.