TWO Keighley residents have been hard at work clearing flytipping and debris from Keighley waterways.

John Tickner and Sue Patchett carried on weekly litter-picks after Covid-19 rules stopped clean-ups by their group, the River Worth Friends. They focused on the lower reaches of the River Worth but have also cleared the adjoining River Aire and North Beck.

The pair are leading members of the River Worth Friends whose mission is to protect and promote the waterway. The pair’s “fantastic efforts” were praised by Shaun O’Hare, coordinator of regeneration group Keighley Big Local, which with the Aire Rivers Trust supports the Friends.

He said: “The River Worth is a green corridor creating the spine to the Keighley Big Local area. We recognise what happens in the headwaters has an effect down-river, so although activity is concentrated in the Big Local area, the Friends organise activities and events along the whole length of the River Worth, the River Aire and its tributaries.

Sue and John have filled dozens of refuse sacks with flytipping and debris, ready for disposal by Bradford Council.

Sue said: “We decided to remove furniture and bin liners of rubbish which had been flytipped in the river months ago. Every time I walked past and saw it all, it irked me, so we cracked on with getting the stuff out before it got washed further downstream.

“At one point I winched some stuff up the embankment and along with it was a bullhead fish, which set me off hysterically screaming! We ended up with 10 bags of litter plus a wardrobe, but there’s plenty more litter still around there for the team to get.”

The River Worth Friends are planning group clean-ups for September 12, 20 and 26, most as part of Keep Britain Tidy’s Great September Clean. Places should be booked. Visit River Worth Friends on Facebook for information.