Traffic cones, shopping trolleys, and a cast-iron wheelbarrow were among the items dredged from the bottom of the River Skerne in Darlington yesterday.

Darlington Borough Council's Street Scene team spent the day cleaning a stretch of river from Victoria Embankment, next to Feethams, into South Park.

The work was prompted by local residents, who complained to councillors about the rubbish.

Councillor Cyndi Hughes, who helped to organise the clean-up, said: "It's the sort of thing I've had complaints about over the past three years since I was elected.

"With all the money invested in South Park, it's good that something is being done for its river."

Councillor Glen Reynolds, who also helped to organise the clean-up, said: "This demonstrates that Street Scene includes rivers and is not just applicable to streets.

"It is a good example of taking on residents' concerns.

"We have asked that the river is cleaned in the summer, because that is when people particularly like walking by it.

"A wheelbarrow in a river has an impact on all of us, and now we are doing something about it.

"It's not an easy task getting something like that out."