WORKERS have been removing litter and working to clean up a stream which runs through their industrial estate.

Volunteers from the businesses on the industrial estate in Peterlee are trying to improve water quality in the stream.

Wapping Burn rises from a culvert pipe on Davy Drive and eventually flows into Castle Eden Burn, but also takes surface water from the industrial estate and suffers from flooding and poor water quality, which has led to a decline in wildlife.

Volunteers from Caterpillar helped set up monitoring stations on the burn and are sending in regular readings about water flow. Last month they also carried out litter picking on the banks, taking away a trailer load of rubbish.

Meanwhile, staff from NSK have set up monthly litter picks and fortnightly checks to confirm water flowing from the plant into the burn is clean. The company also plans to spend £46,000 over the next two years on car park interceptors to add further protection.

The Wear Rivers Trust has been working with businesses on the estate as part of the wider Castle Eden Catchment Improvement project.

Project Officer Carolyn Simpson said: “Measures to help cleanse and protect the stream from littering and limit potential sources of pollution, including contaminated surface water runoff and misconnections in the sewer system, will help improve water quality and replenish the burn downstream.

“We look forward to working with other businesses in the near future and attending networking events at Peterlee Business Park.

“Active participation of landowners and local organisations will be key to the long term health of the stream and the response we’ve received so far is very exciting.”

Plans are also underway to train volunteers from local businesses to complete monthly checks for riverfly in the stream to gather helpful data.