A group of neighbours from Ashton-on-Ribble are holding their third annual canal clean up as part of the nationwide Great Get Together campaign.

Last year’s clean up saw a shopping trolley pulled out of the water for the second year in a row. A wheelbarrow was also fished out, and dozens of bin bags were filled with rubbish.

The Shelley Road residents have been organising the clean up since the Great Get Together was launched in 2017 in memory of MP Jo Cox, who was killed in June 2016.

One of the organisers, Neil White, said: “Jo was famous for bringing people together and in particular for saying ‘we have more in common than that which divides us’.

“As a group we were really saddened by her death and keen to be part of a campaign that aims to bring something positive from it.

“Everyone is welcome at our get togethers regardless of cultural, religious, political, etc. background.

“I’ve lived on this street for over 20 years but at both our previous events I’ve met lots of people I’ve never seen before, despite us having been neighbours for years.

“Many people are now Facebook friends or even real-life friends, so it’s definitely helped build our sense of community.”

The Canal and River Trust and Preston City Council will be supporting the clean up, which will start from the Preston end of the Lancaster Canal off Aqueduct Street. Preston MP Mark Hendrick will also be joining in.

In previous years the organisers held a street party but this year they have instead opted to meet at The Wheatsheaf pub on Water Lane.

Read more: Great Get Together returns to Ashton-on-Ribble

The canal clean up will take place on Saturday 22 June from 1pm to 3pm. The event is open for anyone to join. Find out more on the Shelley Road Together Facebook group.

Will you be attending the canal clean up or any other Great Get Together events? Let us know in the comments below.