Some of the more unusual items found during a clean-up of the foreshore at Newport Wetlands last week included a child’s ride on car, half a canoe and a fancy dress costume of a cow.

Volunteers armed with high-vis jackets hauled these back to the path, along with the expected boxes, tubes and tyres dumped or washed up on the Wetlands.

Now the reserve is not only more attractive, but better for wildlife.

The day was coordinated by Natural Resources Wales, Keep Wales Tidy and the RSPB, who run the visitors’ centre.

Hundreds of tennis balls, a telescope, plastic bottles and shipping barrels were also found during the clear-up, which organisers hope to make an annual event.

Most of the rubbish collected will now be recycled by Newport Wastesavers.

Tom Dalrymple, from Natural Resources Wales said: "We are extremely grateful to the volunteers from Natural Resources Wales, RSPB and McDonalds for all their hard work. They helped remove a tremendous amount of rubbish from the foreshore at Uskmouth.

“As well as making part of Newport Wetlands look visually unattractive, the rubbish was a hazard to wildlife and was smothering a rare habitat - part of the saltmarsh of the Severn Estuary. This now makes the area a more attractive place for people and wildlife.”