OVER 100 bags of rubbish were collected from Netherton Reservoir last weekend thanks to the efforts of a committed group of volunteers.

A litter picking supergroup made up of Black Country nature lovers Razza Rats; the Saltwells Clean and Green Group; Save Saltwells; Dudley Dolphins, Feral Yamyam Bushcraft School and members of Dudley Watersports Centre joined forces to tidy up the beauty spot on Sunday, January 19.

Over 40 people turned out to the event on Highbridge Road in the cold to make the area safer and cleaner for local people.

The team collected 107 bags of rubbish, along with half of tonne of scrap metal and appliances.

Paddle boarders and scuba divers from Dudley Watersports Centre, which is based at the reservoir, also volunteered their time and skills to safely remove rubbish from the water.

They were also joined by Dudley PCSO's Jake Green and Dean Boundford who helped wade into the water to fish abandoned tyres out of the reservoir.

The rubbish was moved by the Dudley Council Street Cleansing Team who filled their truck twice over with the amount of rubbish collected.

Paul Billingham, a member of Razza Rats who work to celebrate the natural world in Dudley, praised the "absolutely fantastic" efforts of the volunteers.

He said the group plan to continue clean ups as and when they are needed, and will be looking to work with other groups in Dudley to improve the natural environment.

Carly Walker, a fellow Razza Rat, added: "It's not my rubbish but it's my planet!"