WATERWAYS on the Olympic park are being dredged as part of a multi-million pound clean up.

A 6-tonne craft is dredging a 2.2km stretch of water from Bow Creek to the Waterworks River, in Newham.

More than 30,000 tonnes of silt, gravel and rubble will be removed as well as rubbish including tyres and shopping trolleys.

Richard Jackson, Olympic Delivery Authority environment manager, said: "The Olympic Park is characterised by a series of waterways which act as green corridors running through the heart of the site.

"Currently, they are polluted, neglected and under-used, and have been treated as a dumping ground for everything from shopping trolleys to cars.

“This dredging programme is an important step in regenerating the waterways and will help improve water quality, creating better habitats for wildlife and plants."

The clearing and cleaning of the waterways will also enable freight barges to carry construction materials in, and waste out, of the park.