PONDS in Lindley have a new lease of life thanks to the hard work of residents.

Reinwood Ponds, near Woodlea Avenue and Heywood Avenue, were full of litter, leaves, weeds, and even a shopping trolley.

So a group of neighbours wrapped up warmly against the icy winds, donned their wellies and waded in.

Even Clr Tony Brice rolled up his sleeves and mucked in.

He said: "It was a great effort by all concerned they should be very pleased with what they have done.

"The issue was raised some time ago and we decided once the Woodlea Avenue Neighbourhood Watch had been set up to use that as springboard.

"People from the surrounding areas all got involved. We fished out mainly leaves and silt but we also found shopping trolleys."

A rare pond weed was also found during the clean-up.

Floating pennywort - which was imported to Britain in the 1980s - was also cleared from the ponds. If left to grow it would have taken over the pond, damaging wildlife.