CHILDREN from schools have taken part in litter pick along a stretch of canal running through the city.

Children from King’s Hawford and St. Barnabas CE Primary worked on the Worcester Canal on Thursday, supporting the work by the Canal and Rivers Trust, and involving volunteers from the World Against Single Use Plastic organisation.

Parent Kerstin Lloyd-Adams, 50, from Worcester, whose son took part, said: “It’s a fantastic school project - I’m really proud of Henry and the children for helping the Canal and River Trust in the clean-up.

“This was a good way to involve the children in local environmental action.”

Henry Lloyd-Adams, nine, who attends King's Hawford, said: “It was really smelly.

“It took us about 40 minutes to clear quite a lot of rubbish but there was still lots left - we got three bags full.

“People need to stop chucking rubbish away - there was rubbish everywhere.”

Jim Turner, headmaster at King’s Hawford, said: “It was good to see so many joining this venture on the day.

“The children were terrific, enthusiastically gathering bags of rubbish and showing great support for WASUP and the Canal and Rivers Trust in their quest to clean up our waterways, removing a great deal of plastic along the way.”

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Andy Train, a former Olympian and world champion, took volunteers out on the canal in a bell-boat, giving those who attended a close-up view of the rubbish that had been dropped into the canal.

Miss England finalist and University of Worcester student Isobel Lines also gave her support and encouragement to those taking part.

The children were also greeted by the mayor of Worcester, councillor Allah Ditta, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Major General Mark Armstrong and blessed by Canon Stuart Currie before setting off to clean up the canal.