A team of volunteers have formed a group that aims to clean up areas around the river banks in Norwich – and they are urging other people to get involved in helping them with the project too.

The Pagan Growers Society is the idea of 39-year-old Stuart Whitworth, from Catton Grove, who said he wanted to encourage people to give something back to the city, and he has set up the group with Chris Whitworth, 37, and who lives in Heartsease, and Gavin Page, 28, who lives in the city centre.

Stuart said they had so far recruited more than 50 members, with some people offering their time to help with clearing up the areas and others donating plants and other items.

Stuart said: 'We're not just wanting to clean them (the areas) up, we're wanting to give the river banks a make-over. We want to attract families back out into the open and enjoy good old-fashioned family time picnicking, getting close to nature.'

The group began the first stage of their project on Saturday when volunteers started clearing up the river bank area near the Gibraltar Gardens pub, in Heigham Street.

They spent the day clearing up rubbish and tidying the area, and next weekend they will be planting some plants in the area.

Stuart said once they had finished in the area near the Gibraltar Gardens they would move along the river and hoped to clean up 13 areas along the River Wensum before starting work on other areas in the city.

Stuart said the group could only do so much on its own and is calling for other people and businesses to get involved too.

He said: 'We want as many people that can help as possible to get involved.

'We are hoping to get some shops and garden centres to sponsor us.

'We are also in need of plants, flowers and seeds, and any garden tools that people don't want any more.'

People wanting to make a donation or to volunteer with the Pagan Growers Society should get in touch with them via the Norwich Pagan Moot page on Facebook.

Have you set up a new community project in the city?

Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk