ALONG the paths, on the river and even underwater... volunteers and Chelmsford Council staff are cleaning up every corner of the city’s parks this month.

West Park, Admirals Park and Central Park were all included in this year’s New Year Litter Pick on Saturday, January 17. A small army of volunteers came out to clean up the paths and grass, with local people joining forces with organisations like Chelmer Canal Trust and McDonalds. West Park Pitch and Putt hosted refreshments in their café, making sure everyone was well looked after.

Arriving with his coracle, Steve Miles even ventured onto the river to help remove litter. Overall, 36 bags of litter were retrieved during the day, including a discarded computer and an old safe.

The council’s Service Development Officer and event organiser, Rebecca Moss, said: “We would like to thank all of the volunteers who joined us on Saturday: the parks and the area around the river now look tidy and attractive after their New Year clean.”

Following this, a team of divers are set to plunge into Central Park Lake to clear weeds and litter from the water on Saturday, January 31. Brian Neave and the Calypso Blue Dive School are volunteering to assist City Council staff for the third time within the lake. They will be in the water from 10am on the day.

Their help will further improve the lake’s water quality after new ‘fountains’ were installed in 2014. These are actually aerators, keeping the water well-oxygenated to prevent a build-up of algae.

Councillor Ray Ride, in charge of parks and leisure, said: “Litter is not only damaging to the aesthetic of the park, but harmful to its wildlife and plants. In Chelmsford, we are lucky to have many conscientious citizens who put their rubbish in the bin, volunteer at regular clean-ups and care about the city’s green spaces. With the litter pick, the dive and the lake’s new anti-algae aerators, we can enjoy clean, beautiful parks and waterways in 2015.”