WORK has finally started clearing away tonnes of debris from beneath Worcester bridge, washed against the arches in the January floods.

In a joint operation between Worcestershire County Council, the Environment Agency and British Waterways, specialist workmen were drafted in yesterday afternoon to haul the stinking, filthy mass aboard a barge brought in for the painstaking operation.

The island of driftwood and rubbish had been under the bridge for so long that birds were using it to roost.

Because nobody had taken immediate responsibility for the problem the annual Worcester Head of the River boat race had to be re-routed, causing disappointment for the hundreds of competitors involved and, as the Worcester News commented, embarrassment for the city.

It is thought work will continue in to next week.