SUPPORT is growing for campaigns dedicated to cleaning up shabby sections of Stourbridge including its landmark river.

Around 50 members of Transition Stourbridge and Tidy Stourbridge joined forces for a litter pick in the Bagley Street area and along the River Stour on March 25.

The pickers, who were fully kitted-out with safety equipment, filled around 40 bags of rubbish including grot which had been deliberately dumped.

David Colley, of Tidy Stourbridge, said: "Fly-tipping and street drinking were much in evidence in the Bagley Street car park and on the Stour as items such as asbestos, car batteries, cones, a vacuum, rubble and tyres were collected.

“The rubbish was quite hidden in overgrown bushes and it had become another out of sight, out of mind scenario."

Rosanne Adams, from Transition Stourbridge, said: “What a great event, I was amazed at the pile of rubbish waiting at Bagley Street when I returned. There really is such a lot of enthusiasm for getting something done.”

During the summer, Tidy Stourbridge will be holding regular Pick’n'Pint events, their next meeting will be at The Little Pig in High Street, Amblecote, at 7pm on Thursday April 12 to clean up School Drive and Corbett Hospital.

Meanwhile staff at Merry Hill cosmetics store Lush joined forces with music duo The Lyrebirds earlier this month for an in-store event to raise awareness and funds for Transition Stourbridge.

Lesley Rhodes, from Lush, said: "We want to help get word out, It's a great opportunity to get involved with a project that aims to transform the shabby rubbish-strewn river into a wildlife and tourist haven.”