MORE than 30 bags of rubbish and almost 500kgs of scrap metal were removed from Pontypool Park during a successful river clean-up.

The event on June 1 was organised by the newlyformed Pontypool Park Friends group with support from staff at Torfaen council’s neighbourhood services department.

A litter pick also took place at the park on June 4, when a further 20 bags of waste were collected.

Lisa Standley, secretary of the Pontypool Park Friends group, said volunteers worked for nearly four-and-a-half hours on June 1 and removed 480kgs of scrap metal and 31 bags of rubbish.

She said: “We removed three trolleys, one engine block, one drain and numerous bikes and scooters.

“We also filled two green bags full of just plastic bottles, and half a bag with tin cans – the majority of which were recycled.”

The litter pick concentrated alongside the Nantygollen Stream, around the ponds and across the green bank above the rugby pitch terraces.

The group has carried out three litter picks since it was formed, which have seen it collect a total of 88 bags of litter and 480kgs of scrap metal.

Councillor John Cunningham, Torfaen council’s executive member for neighbourhood services, said: “The work carried out by the Pontypool Park Friends group is incredible. What they have achieved is amazing, especially when you remember that they are a relatively new group.”

The group’s next litter pick is on July 2 and will take place between 10am and noon.

Anyone interested in taking part is asked to meet outside the park’s grandstand.