VOLUNTEERS and staff from a Newport waste firm cleaned up 450 bags of litter from the banks of the River Usk at the weekend.

The group of 25 from Nash Road-based GD Environmental came together on Saturday, March 25, to clean up rubbish from around the Transporter Bridge as part of the Spring Clean Cymru campaign run by Keep Wales Tidy.

The majority of the litter was plastic which had been left on the banks of the river by the tides and could be dangerous to wildlife both on land and in the water at the Site of Specific Scientific Interest.

The firm’s chief executive Oliver Hazell said: “GD Environmental was delighted to be a part of this campaign as we take our corporate social responsibility commitment very seriously.

“The day was a great success and the staff involved got to make a real different in their local area.”

Newport project officer with Keep Wales Tidy Steve Chamberlain said: “It’s vital that we all do our bit to care for our local environment and this event has been a perfect example of what local communities can achieve when they work together.

“Most of the rubbish was plastic and we saved all of that from re-entering our oceans.”