'Worst it's been in eight years' - see the extent of pollution on banks of Ribble in Penwortham

Fifty bags of rubbish - including plastic bottles, tyres and polystrene, have been collected in two hours from the banks of the River Ribble in Penwortham.

Following the recent flood surges and high spring tides, the Ribble Rivers Trust in conjunction with South Ribble Borough Council (SRBC) organised a litter pick along the South Ribble bank of the river. This took place on Saturday, April 11, at the bottom of Howick Cross Lane and was supported by members of Longton Litter Pickers and Preston Wildfowlers.

In previous picks, around two tonnes of mainly plastic waste were collected by SRBC and items re-cycled where possible.

Local resident and volunteer, Richard Hargreaves, said: “The area at Howick Cross was particularly bad again following the recent Storm Dave and high spring tides, probably the worst it has been since 2018.

“Litter picks have been organised in this area for over a decade now . Rubbish from throughout Lancashire can be carried by the Ribble and its feeder watercourses , or washed in from the sea with the tides , and whilst it is unsightly it does provide an opportunity on the bank for safe collection at low tide.

“If not collected, the waste will most likely end up in the ocean. The statistics are quite appalling with over 100,000 marine animals killed by entanglement in nets, lines and plastic bags and over a million seabirds killed each year by plastic worldwide. It can take hundreds of years to break down. Up until the past few decades the majority of flotsam in our seas and rivers was biodegradable, now around 90 per cent is plastic.

“Estuarine wildlife is particularly susceptible to its presence as it can restrict mobility, disrupt digestion if consumed, and block delicate breathing or feeding structures.”

The Ribble Rivers Trust have also recently organised group picks near the Capitol Centre where the River Darwen meets the Ribble, and again on the River Darwen at Hoghton Bottoms.

Find out more at www.ribbletrust.org.uk or by visiting their Facebook page on: https://www.facebook.com/RibbleTrust