THE co-ordinator of a local volunteer group dedicated to maintaining the Bridgwater and Taunton Canal and the docks has warned locals of the dangers of fly-tipping.

Mike Slade, who runs IWA Somerset Volunteers, said his group recently came across an 'astonishing' incident of fly-tipping along the canal at the rear of Lakeside Caravan Park.

"The full extent of the quantity of items dumped was astonishing," Mike said.

"We bagged up that rubbish and took it out into the car park, and put it by the dog bin, and advised Clean Surroundings to pick it up.

“We get a lot along that section and along near Squibbers Way."

Mike, whose group has spent 30,000 hours on maintaining the canal and docks over the past ten years, said fly-tipping in Bridgwater is just as prevalent as ever, and warns that discarded items along the canal can be of immense danger to the public.

"There’s lots of bits and pieces that we’re picking up, where if someone dumps it under a canal bridge, and another comes along on a cycle or when it’s dark, it’s potentially a danger," he said.

“We cut down the vegetation either side of the bridge to make sure people have a bit more safety room.”Bridgwater Mercury: The group has spent a total of 30,000 hours maintaining the canal and docks.The group has spent a total of 30,000 hours maintaining the canal and docks. (Image: Bridgwater and Taunton Canal - IWA Somerset Volunteers)

Mike explained how the IWA Somerset Volunteers are often left feeling shocked and anxious by some of the litter they find and have to remove from the path along the canal.

“We’re always anxious as to what we pick up, as it sometimes get thrown back in," he said.

"A discarded jumper can easily incapacitate the engine of a boat.

“It affects wildlife - you can get any insect or small mammal going into a can and cutting itself, or getting trapped in a bottle.

"We’ve also had fishing line wrapped around and cutting into birds’ legs."

Some of the most bizarre items the group has found along the canal in Bridgwater include a single bed, and a double bed, along with a TV box, which were blocking most of the path, and on another occasion - ten empty four-litre milk bottles.

Mike has urged locals who come across fly-tipping in the area to report it to Somerset Council's Clean Surroundings division.

“If you ignore the small fly-tips, then you get people re-offending," he said.