THE Aire Rivers Trust will be joined by an army of volunteers in May for a weekend of litter picking along the rivers Aire and Worth The Our Clean River project, which will take place from Thursday, May 11 to Sunday, May 14, is a great opportunity for groups and communities to come together and work towards a healthy river network full of wildlife, says the trust.

Simon Watts, operations manager for the Aire Rivers Trust, said the project would focus efforts during the weekend towards removing litter and debris. Over the winter, debris, including tyres and traffic cones, are washed into becks and rivers, and along with fly-tipping and pollution from roads, there is a major impact on the health of waterways and risk of flooding caused by blockages.

Last year, the event saw more than 500 bags of litter, 103 tyres, and other items ranging from cars to shopping trollies removed from the rivers and its surrounding green spaces.

He said: “Wildlife can end up entangled in litter or it breaks down and enters the food chain.We want to work together to remove the (litter and debris) before they get washed downstream or harm wildlife.”

Volunteer groups expected to take part include angling clubs, community groups, and environmental campaigning groups, ranging from across the whole River Aire area from Skipton to Leeds.

To find out more about getting involved, visit: https://aireriverstrust.org.uk/get-involved/ or telephone 01274 061902.