A MESSAGE in a bottle and a hypodermic needle were just some of the items discovered by the Black Rock Lave Net Fishery on Saturday as fishermen collected around 20 bags of rubbish from the estuary.

As part of the Wales Year Of The Sea and Spring Clean Wales campaigns, the Black Rock Lave Net fishermen decided to clean the foreshore between Caldicot Pill and Sudbrook point on Saturday (10th March).

Walking up the tide line prior to the fishing season, members of the group have cleaned the spot underneath the Second Severn Crossing a number of times in the past. Around 20 bags of plastic were removed from the tide line, in what was quite a shock to all concerned.

“25 years ago on this stretch between the Pill and Sudbrook Wharf you would be lucky to find a few glass bottles,” said the group’s secretary Martin Morgan.

Group members found huge amounts of plastic, including bottles, bottle caps, cotton buds, straws, lighters, toys, milk bottles, food trays, coffee cup lids, buckets, 25 gallon drums and chairs.

“We strive to look after our own patch but its an uphill battle,” Martin added.

“Quite distressing was the find of an hypodermic needle, but on the bright side we found a message in a glass bottle which lightened the day!”

The message, which was later opened by another member of the group, turned out to be in a foreign language and so remains a mystery. It is hoped the message will be translated, and more details can be found about its origin.

Keep an eye on the Beacon as the mystery unravels.