MARGARET Layland is to be commended for the work she does for the community. I particularly have in mind the litter collections, which are no doubt done in her own precious time.

However, her recent letter about the rubbish that has collected on the bed of the Severn near the road bridge, while written with good intentions, is nevertheless mistaken.

I'm only an occasional visitor to this lovely city of yours, but I was saddened by what I saw this summer.

It seems to me that the only people who could remove the appalling amount of debris that has accumulated here should be the professionals.

Well-meaning amateurs would not be able to safely remove the bikes, traffic cones, signs and trolleys that now litter the bed near the swan sanctuary. The sheer weight of some of these items means that "two men in a boat" just would not be able to handle them.

Many of these items will, by their very nature, be snagged on the bottom of the river. Such a scenario speaks much of the hidden dangers that undoubtedly lurk below the water's surface.

No. What is needed in Worcester is for a task force of professionals to clean up the river bed in time for the tourist season next year.

This should be a council priority. It's far more important than bothering about a few seagulls. I wonder what your readers think?

RICHARD FOTHERINGHAY,

Tile HIll,

Coventry, West Midlands.