BOATERS took to Oxford’s waterways to give rivers and streams a thorough clean-out.

Volunteers carried out a two-hour stint of rubbish clearance on the Thames and Cherwell, their tributaries, and the Oxford Canal on Saturday.

There had been growing concern about the large amounts of rubbish left floating on rivers and strewn along banks throughout the city, so waterway-users set sail to help tidy up.

The clean-up, which was the first of its kind, was co-ordinated by the city’s River Users Group.

Dr Dick Mayon-White, 66, who led the clean-up, which started at Osney Lock, said: “This was the first time we have actually cleared debris from the water itself.

“About 25 people turned up to take part, and the Environment Agency used one of its patrol boats to pull our dinghies and carry away the heavy rubbish.”

He added: “We needed to do this because some people throw shopping trolleys, food containers, beer bottles and all sorts of rubbish into the water.”

Alan Graham, 68, from Sandford-on-Thames, was one of the volunteers.

The former RAF bomber nagivator said: “I’ve got a four-berth cabin cruiser and I don’t like to see all this rubbish in the river. Some people are thoughtless.”

Also taking part were volunteers from Osney Marina, Medley Sailing Club, River Thames Society, St Edward’s School, Oxford River Cruisers, City Barge Club and Falcon Rowing and Canoe Club.

They took to the water in a variety of vessels, ranging from rowing boats and dinghies, to canoes and launches.

The River and Canal Day initiative was an initative from OxClean, the group that organises a city-wide clean-up every March.