VOLUNTEERS teamed up to clean up plastic from the tow path of the Bridgewater Canal in Runcorn.

Weaver Vale MP Mike Amesbury and Halton councillors Norman and Carol Plumpton-Walsh joined members of Runcorn Womens Institute (WI) and their children, family and friends to walk from Daresbury to Norton Priory armed with refuse sacks.

The group picked up 32 bags of rubbish and plastic including two prams.

Halton Council provided litter pickers, gloves and recyclable rubbish bags and some members also decorated hessian sacks to brighten the walk and bring home the message that single use plastic is a bad idea.

The walk was organised by Runcorn WI as part of the Climate Coalition Week of Action.

Cheshire WI are members of the coalition and chose to have a series of waterside plastic waste pickup walks to highlight how much unnecessary single use plastic is littering the countryside.

Mr Amesbury said: “The dangers of plastics to our environment have thankfully been very well highlighted by community groups and environment campaigners, as well as on shows such as Blue Planet, where we’ve all been horrified at the potential damage it causes to our precious wildlife and surroundings.

“This was a fantastic turnout and it was great to be able to join everyone so we could all do our part.”

Sue Bentley MBE, climate ambassador for Cheshire Federation of Women's Institutes, said:“We were really pleased that Mike could join us and delighted that he picked up a full bag of rubbish and plastic waste despite the heat.

"It is inspirational to see our MP joining in wholeheartedly to improve our town.”