Clean-up 'treasure'

A GROUP of volunteers from the Chesterfield Canal Trust and Retford Civic Society, pulled out a wide variety of 'treasure' from the Chesterfield Canal in Retford.

In just a single day 20 members worked their way along about a mile of the towpath, filling 15 black plastic bags with litter of all descriptions.

Dredge canal bottom

But it was the six Trust members working with their historic boat, Python, split with one steering, one in the hold and four  on the towpath using grappling hooks to dredge the canal bottom, that landed such a variety, consisting of:

• 1   Wilkinson trolley in perfect order;
• 1   ASDA trolley in perfect order complete with gizmo preventing removal from ASDA;
• 2   Cycles;
• 1   Concrete water hydrant stand;
• 1  Roadworks barrier;
• 1  9ft length of 2" steel box section;
• 2  Roadworks warning signs;
• 1 8ft length of down pipe complete with 45º return;
• 2 Umbrella frames;
• 3 Fish landing nets;
• 2 Fish landing net handles, 3ft and 4ft;
• 1 5ft double ended rake and hoe.

Plus a one ton gravel bag almost full with various floating detritus, e.g. bottles of all sizes, plastic bags even underwear and trainers!

Vandals emptied pound

The following day, Python met a Bassetlaw Council vehicle at Barnby Wharf to unload all the rubbish. Having moored overnight at Ranby, they should have been back at their permanent mooring at Shireoaks, but even this was stymied because vandals had emptied the Bracebridge to Kilton pound and Deep Lock was obstructed by a huge box that had been dropped into the canal.

The gallant crew finally got back on Friday after an epic mission.