More than 30 trollies were pulled from the River Medway as part of a clean-up operation.

The water levels in Tonbridge have been lowered as part of the yearly repair and clean operation.

Rubbish removal efforts were led by the Medway Valley Countryside Partnership (MVCP), in collaboration with the Environment Agency (EA) and Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (TMBC) – with almost 50 volunteers arriving to muck in.

The levels were lowered on March 11 and will stay that way for five weeks and the group found a total of 34 trollies, filled 60 bags of litter, and pulled a suitcase, coffee machine, and bike from the river.

Jo Hill, from MVCP, who led the clear-up operation in Tonbridge called the work “crucial” due to the impact the litter has on wildlife and habitats.

She said: “The more we can get out, the more of a positive benefit it’s going to have.”

While the EA are responsible for the river, efforts were undertaken through a community partnership between the government body and MVCP’s staff and river wardens, along with the Canoe Club and other volunteers.

David Giddings from Larkfield joined the operation on behalf of the Maidstone Canoe club, in a bid to help make the river cleaner and safer for those using it for sports activities.

The 63-year-old was part of a group in the water removing trollies and said: “The trolleys are a danger; they are very bulky and when the water level goes down they are dangerous.

“If someone is in the river for any reason and they go over them and don’t know it is there, they can cause a lot of damage and harm, so we are pulling out the trollies to make the water a bit safer.”

Another volunteer, Paul Waghorn, 64, from Tunbridge Wells, said: “I truly care about the river as an angler. We’re all conservationists and this means that we care about the bird life and natural habitat and of course the fish.”

The angler also added that the river is being used as a “dumping ground” because there are very few cameras to deter people.

EA operations manager, Ian Nunn, said: “We’re really fortunate, local supermarkets have offered to take their trollies away and the metal stuff will go to recycling centres.”

The trollies, which belong to neighbouring supermarkets, Sainsburys, Waitrose and Iceland, have since been taken to the EA depot in Allington.

Of the 34 trollies collected, 18 of them belonged to Sainsburys in Tonbridge and the supermarket plans to collect and dispose of these accordingly.

Matt Boughton, leader of the council attended and said: “We’re getting towards spring clean season, and we thought we would partner with the Environment Agency and see if we can get a good group of people from across the town to come out and clear some of the litter that we’ve seen on the river banks and river bed.

“It’s great to have such a good turn out today,” he added.

Jo, from MVCP, told KentOnline the support from the public had been amazing, with many passers by thanking those involved.

The next rubbish removal event is planned for April 4.