VOLUNTEERS collected more than a dozen bags of rubbish strewn along a popular riverside route.

The Friends of Rockwell Nature Reserve held a litter pick on Saturday (February 21) in a bid to clear one of the area’s busiest patches.

Eight volunteers toiled tirelessly to pick up litter discarded along the riverside route, used by many to access Darlington town centre.

The litter pick was one of many organised by the Friends group as part of a concerted effort to clean up the much-loved nature reserve.

One member, Margs Graham, said: “We try to do a litter pick at least four times a year.

“It’s a busy thoroughfare so the reserve gets a fair bit of litter but because of our litter picks, it never gets too bad.”

Ms Graham urged people to pick up after themselves and said more should be done to prevent the problem.

She said: “I think there could be more done with education.

“Take your litter home and put it in the bin – the litter picks mean it’s not a massive problem but I would love not to have to do any.”