GARDEN furniture, an old bike and more than a dozen trees have been removed from a North-East river during a major clean-up.

Businesses, river users and public organisations spent yesterday removing rubbish and unsightly debris from the River Tees, in Stockton.

The Tees River Users' Group came up with the idea and worked with Stockton Borough Council to set up the operation.

Kier, the company building a casino in the town, sponsored the event.

The main focus was on the stretch of river around the River Tees Watersports Centre, near Stockton's Infinity Bridge, and particularly around the slipway.

British Waterways dredged areas of the river bed for submerged debris and Cleveland Fire Brigade washed down the riverbank following the operation.

The Mayor of Stockton, Councillor Paul Baker, joined Kier's North-East manager, Gary Dobson, in getting the operation under way.

By the end of the day, the team had filled two skips with debris and retrieved a dozen trees, garden furniture and an old bike. Earlier, a group of young people had collected enough plastic bottles to fill 37 bin bags.

Coun Baker said: "The River Tees is an amazing asset for the borough and it is tremendous for Kier and all these other organisations to come together to keep it clear.

"A considerable amount of debris is washed down the river, particularly after heavy rain.

"This work will help to keep the area looking attractive and help users of the River Tees Watersports Centre by keeping the slipway and the river clear of submerged debris."