Glass bottles, a shopping trolley and an anorak were just some of the rubbish fished out of the River Wye in High Wycombe this week - prompting concerns from residents about the "ugly" problem.
Jean James and Joy Christmas, both from the town, cleared out more than 100 bottles, cans, plastic rubbish and cigarette butts from the section of the river between Morrisons and Hughenden Avenue this week.
An anorak and a shopping trolley were also pulled out of the river, which is an important and rare chalk stream.
Eighty-five per cent of the world's chalk streams are found in England.
Ms James said: "We are lucky enough to have a river running through our town that enhances our lives with its beauty, burbling and wildlife.
"Why, then, are there a few who spoil it for the majority by throwing their rubbish into the river - mainly drinks bottles and cans?
"It can be dangerous for our wildlife, broken glass can injure dogs and cats, it’s ugly and it potentially pollutes the water."
The rubbish pulled out of the river by Ms James and Ms Christmas amounted to "at least a dozen sacks" between Morrisons and Hughenden Avenue.
Ms James added: "Please, it is so easy to put a bottle or can in a bin or take it home to recycle."
Organisations like Revive The Wye, Chiltern Rangers and the Chilterns Chalk Streams Project, led by the Chilterns Conservation Board, have worked tirelessly to rid the important stream of rubbish in the past to make it a haven for wildlife.
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