Motorbike and 50 trolleys pulled from waterways

Hundreds of bags of rubbish, 50 shopping trolleys, office chairs and a motorcycle have been pulled from waterways in Hull and East Yorkshire, officials have said.

Workers, including those from the Environment Agency, have cleared 3,280kg (3.28 tonnes) of waste from the Beverley and Barmston Drain and the Holderness Drain.

It was part of a project to reduce potential flood risks.

Hull City Council said pollution and rubbish have caused blockages in the waterways and could be damaging to local wildlife.

According to the council, £220m has been invested in flood infrastructure in Hull and East Yorkshire in recent years.

Flood risk manager Rachel Glossop said: "Unfortunately, there are a few who are spoiling the efforts of most to make our city a nice place to live and work.

"Littering and fly-tipping is lazy and can have severe consequences.

"It’s not pleasant to see and isn’t good for the environment, also posing a risk to mammals, birds and aquatic wildlife."

The discovery has prompted officials to urge residents to ensure their waste is disposed of lawfully.

They said the issue of fly-tipping has increased after a rise in people being tricked into paying what they believe are legitimate waste disposal businesses only to find they are illegally dumping waste.

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