A VIDEO recorder, a safe, computer equipment and rotting coconuts were just some of the items dragged from a picturesque pond during a big clean-up yesterday(Sunday)afternoon.

The finds were among piles of stinking rubbish, including dozens of bottles, crockery, food wrappers and bread that were hauled out of Eagle Pond in Snaresbrook by a team of volunteers and Epping Forest keepers.

The operation is the second of its kind to be held at the site this year, and comes after conservationists and residents living nearby complained about the state of the lake - which is managed by the City of London Corporation.

Volunteer Jessica Adams, donned waders and rubber gloves to help out on the day, and was surprised by what was found.

She said: "I only did the first half but during that time we got a number of items out such as the base for a computer - which some of the other volunteers said that they’d been wanting to get out for ages - decorative ceramic pots, lots of paper bags, plastic and glass bottles, coconuts, paper, the remains of a fan, a hand mirror, a stop sign and a traffic cone.

"Less nasty stuff than last time but still enough to have collected over only a few months since March.

"At one point I was stuck in the mud up to my thighs. Two wardens had to help pull me out which was a bit humiliating. I wasn’t the only one though."

Forest Keeper Martin Whitfield praised the volunteers for helping with the clean-up.

He said: "It was a good turn out, and we got plenty of rubbish out of the pond.

"It's sad that people are still dumping so much there.

"It's unsightly and it's bad for the wildlife."

Mr Whitfield said the Corporation hoped to involve volunteers in other improvement work at the pond next year.

He said: "We want to get people involved in helping to conserve and improve the pond.

"The next clean-up will probably be held in March next year."

To get involved call: 85321010.