Around 250 paddle boarders and 100 litter pickers met up to collect plastic and rubbish left on and around the river between Kew Bridge and Teddington Lock.

The event – which took place on June 21, was organised by Be Richmond and highlighted the issues that single-use plastic has had on the area’s river banks.

Erick Kervaon, Chairman for Be Richmond said: “This was a fantastic community event involving businesses, workers, residents, charities and schools.

“From a local perspective, the Thames is one of our greatest assets and a healthy river not only supports business and leisure activities, it helps sell Richmond to the wider world.”

Comedian Bill Bailey attended the event and was joined by veterans from the armed forces, members from homeless communities, local charities and firefighters who fought the fatal Grenfell Tower fire in 2017.

Erick Kervaon added: “We are all responsible for our environment and our planet. Every town and every community needs to play its part.

“We believe that this event was the world’s biggest community river clean up and we are challenging other towns and cities to run their own clean ups and prove us wrong”.