SOMERSET volunteers from the Inland Waterways Association's West Country branch have managed to reach 100 work parties since May.

Members led a litter pick at at the recent 'Celebration of the River Tone' event in Taunton, which brought their total volunteer hours to 3,121 since May, 1 2016.

More than 100 enthusiastic volunteers hold regular weekly parties on the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal.

Led by co-ordinator Mike Slade the group has helped maintain the areas around the canal for waterway users and visitors to enjoy.

Regular work parties at Bridgwater Docks focus on tasks such as litter picking and rubbish removal, towpath and footpath vegetation trimming, painting of railings and mooring rings, trimming of overhanging branches, removal of vegetation from the dock basin walls and graffiti removal.

Mr Slade said: "At Taunton some of the tasks undertaken by volunteer teams include carrying out litter picking and rubbish removal, vegetation tidying of the lock areas and car park, painting railings at French Weir and graffiti removal.

"In addition volunteers are involved with bulb planting, litter picking along the River Parrett and supporting events and other community groups work parties, such as the Litter Pick for Wildlife."

For the 100th work party 35 adult volunteers turned out joined by eight youngsters for a litter pick along the River Tone footpath.

Work was undertaken at French Weir, Longrun Meadow, down the riverbank towards Goodland Gardens, and round the leats near Tesco, and overall 18 sacks of litter were collected.

Mr Slade added: "Volunteer numbers for IWA West Country branch in Somerset continue to grow as do new opportunities for volunteers to get involved, such as the work party near Wellington on the Grand Western Canal. "For information about future litter picks, or vegetation removal working parties, please contact:

mike.slade@waterways.org.uk."