VOLUNTEERS braved the wind and the rain to clean up a stretch of the River Stour in Halesowen.

River Stour Clear Water Project coordinated the environmental clean up near Furnace Hill on Sunday and branded the event a success.

Roseanne Adams, founder of the group, was delighted with the turnout.

Heavy rainfall, and rising river levels, meant that it was too dangerous to go into the water but the team still managed to collect forty bags of rubbish from the river banks.

She said: "We had a really wonderful event on Sunday with 16 volunteers turning out in the rain, many came through having seen the event in the News, and we collected mountains of litter.

“It was a huge surprise, and very uplifting, to see so many volunteers turning out in awful weather to clear up years of mess.

She added: “Everyone worked extremely hard and the rubbish pile was huge after an hour and a half's work.

“We will be returning to clean up the river itself when the weather is dryer and the banks less slippery.”

Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris joined the volunteers, community activists Nick Gregory and Andrea Goddard, and local residents for the spring clean.

He said: “I would like to thank everybody who gave up their Sunday morning to help clean up the river banks.

“Although it was a bit depressing to see so much litter along the river, it was fantastic to see that the horrible weather couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the team.

“It was a great credit to everybody involved in organising the event and all of those who came out to volunteer.”

Any local residents or community groups who would like to help organise a clean-up in their area should email james.morris.mp@parliament or call 0121 550 6777.