Staff from Anglian Water and the Environment Agency will be meeting with volunteers from Kettering Conference centre today to clear rubbish from around the Conference Centre and the nearby lake and brook.

The clean up operation is taking place after residents complained about the state of the area, which has been deteriorating over the last few years, with people using it as a site to dump large household items.

And as well as using regular litter picking items for the discarded wrappers and plastic bags from the grass area around the lake the team will be using large hooks and ropes to remove the trolleys and bins from the water.

The litter pick has been organised by Anglian Water's RiverCare project, and is supported by Kettering Council, which sets up 'adopt-a-river' groups around the region, by helping communities to improve their local streams and rivers.

Andrew Walters, RiverCare Project Manager, said: "The nine-acre lake and the Slade Brook are great, green assets to the local area.

"Unfortunately, they are being blighted by rubbish.

"It's a great start to have Environment Agency and Anglian Water staff rallying together with the Conference Centre to improve it."

Following the clean-up project it is hoped residents will form a volunteer group to keep the area clean, working alongside Keep Britain Tidy.

The Rivercare scheme already operates in the region through the Northampton and Wellingborough Sea Cadets.

For more information on the scheme visit their website at www.rivercare.org.uk.