AN EYESORE in a secluded area of Pickering's picturesque river is to be tackled with help from the public.

Because of mounting workload and costs, the Environment Agency is asking residents in the Vivis Lane area to help clear the river of rubbish dumped over the gasworks bridge in the summer.

Police said there had been a number of other problems in the area and they were stepping up patrols.

Supermarket trolleys, footballs, piles of plastic bottles and drink cans litter the beck on each side of the bridge, where tourists and residents are encouraged to use the bankside public right of way.

Mark Fuller environment officer for the EA said: "We have to deal with many similar cases all over Yorkshire so we are going to put a skip at the site, and seek the help of local residents to get the work done quicker because we know it is causing concern."