A NEGLECTED stretch of canal at Stairfoot has been given a new lease of life by a youth fishing club.
Several bikes and scooters, skateboards, shopping trolleys and dozens of beer bottles were among the junk youth worker Walt Boydell and his team pulled out of the stretch of canal near the Trans Pennine Trail on Friday.
Walt wants to clean up and restock the canal for his fishing club and the rest of the community.
He and his team including councillors, kids and the Safer Neighbourhood team, made a good start. Walt said: "If we empower kids to take a bit of pride in their environment and their own community they'll be encouraged to look after it.
"If they hear that people are going down there and starting fires and causing trouble, I'd hope they'd be likely to look after it and report it if things are happening."
Another clean-up event is planned for early June. Volunteers contact Walt on 07802 854003.
