VOLUNTEERS will return to Close Park this weekend to finish clearing the debris left by the Boxing Day floods.

More than 30 people joined the clean-up last Sunday, organised by the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust, and collected more than 150 bags of rubbish.

The park was completely covered in water during the worst of the floods, with homes in neighbouring Parkside Close suffering some of the worst damage seen across the borough.

The Radcliffe Parish Church of St Mary was also badly hit and is expected to be closed for months while specialist teams carry out restoration work on the church and its historic artefacts.

Mike Duddy, of the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust, said: "Five volunteers did amazing work clearing the footpaths of four inches of flood mud – back breaking hard slog

"The remaining volunteers took the river banks, armed with litter pickers and bin bags and removed tonnes of debris washed up by the floods. The old adage of many hands make light work was never more appropriate than at last week's event. Everyone worked together, slowly moving downstream along the river bank, leaving it spick and span.

"A sharp contrast was immediately visible between the litter picked river banking and the bank yet to be cleaned."

The group are now appealing for more volunteers to come forward and lend their support this Sunday to finish the job.

He added: "Despite clearing away over 150 bags of rubbish, tyres, and a small mountain of clothing which had been washed out of a recycling yard, there is still a lot of river bank left uncleared at Close Park – so we will be coming back again next Sunday at 10am to complete the job. It would be great if you could join us.

"Whether you can spare only an hour or two, or are free all day, your help will be greatly appreciated."

The team will be in Close Park from 10am on Sunday and volunteers are asked to sign in at the purple gazebo located on the football pitches, where they can collect a litter picker, bin bags, and gloves.

 

EXPERTS have advised flood victims that waterdamaged documents and photos can be restored.

Document SOS, which is helping restore historic artefacts at the Radcliffe Parish Church of St Mary, have urged people not to throw away damaged papers and are offering free frozen storage to halt further deterioration and mould growth.

Founder Georgine Thorburn said: “Surprising to some is the fact that up to 100 per cent of water damaged paper can be rescued and restored. Although most flash flooding is usually contaminated with coliforms from sewage, all this can be effectively decontaminated with virucidal disinfectants which allows for safe handling once dried.

“Restoration can be a very quick process. Vital work-in-progress files, such as court legal records, police records, medical records, tender documentation, can be dried and reinstated in as little as 48-hours.

Document SOS is available to offer free advice on 07850 345 154.