NEWCASTLE Emlyn residents are organising a large clean-up along the River Teifi on Sunday, June 20, at 1pm.

Following the flooding of the River Teifi, earlier this year, locals were appalled at the huge amount of plastic litter strewn along its banks of their beautiful river.

A walk revealed numerous multi-coloured rubble bags, black silage wrapping and other litter caught up on bushes and trees.

“The Teifi is not a public toilet, tip or dustbin!” said Marco Rebora, who lives alongside. “It is an artery to the sea and very soon there will be more plastic in the sea than fish.”

“The river should be a safe haven for a rich diversity of wildlife and provide types of activities such as canoeing, fishing, walking and swimming.”

The river clean-up has been organised In partnership with Llandysul Paddlers, Adventure Beyond, Canoe Wales, West Wales Rivers Trust and members of the fishing community with the aim of raising awareness of the issues of plastic in local watercourses.

The newly-formed group intend to clean the river from Henllan to Newcastle Emlyn, but

the ultimate aim is to establish an annual river clean along the entire 76-mile length of the Teifi.

One of the longest rivers in Wales, the Teifi is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest as well as a Special Area of Conservation. The group hope to work with land managers and Natural Resources Wales on future clean-up projects.

“The River Teifi should be a positive advert for Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, our jewel in the crown, which should reflect its protected status,” said Jill Sutton, co-founder of Fair Trade and Sustainability shop, Fair and Fabulous.

“As a long campaigner against the increasing use of single-use plastics I find it deeply frustrating that there is little improvement in the situation – indeed, the plastic problem appears to be getting worse.”

Anyone wishing to take part in the Teifi River Clean should make contact via teifiriverclean@gmail.com