A CLEAN-UP by canoeists of the Tavy and other Devon rivers earlier this month 'was likely to cause much more damage than good', according to an angling expert from Crapstone.

Twenty canoeists helped tidy up part of the Tavy from Tavistock Weir to Denham Bridge.

But Robert Mountjoy, author of 'The Sea Trout Diaries', says the timing was bad as fish were spawning, there was risk of the spread of disease and it was unnecessary as clean-ups were already planned for more appropriate times.

Mr Mountjoy said:?'It highlights the problem of trespass by canoeists and the difficulties that landowners faced in fulfilling their responsibilities to protect the environment. The sport of canoeing on inland waters clearly needs regulating much the same as angling is already controlled.'

Mr Mountjoy has started a campaign for controls and has written to West Devon and Torridge MP Geoffrey Cox, the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Owen Paterson and Minister for Sport Hugh Robertson.

He claims that had the organisers of the canoeists' clean-up consulted any property owners or formal bodies they would have advised that the plan was flawed and should not take place. Mr Mountjoy also accused the Environmental Agency of endorsing a 'mass trespass' by issuing a press release in support of the event.

He concluded: 'Local anglers have just lost the fight to block a hydro-electric scheme (at Huckworthy Mill, Sampford Spiney on the River Walkham) that will dramatically reduce the capacity of a local river to produce and sustain juvenile salmon because there was no objection from the EA. Now we find that the same organisation is undermining riparian owners struggling to fulfil their responsibilities to protect the environment.'

But the Environment Agency said it had supported the clean-up events in good faith.

Spokesman Mike Dunning said: 'We refute the claim the agency encouraged a "mass trespass" by canoeists. On the day, it merely supplied the volunteers with bags in which to collect the rubbish and gloves.'

He said there were clear environmental benefits to be gained from the actions of the volunteers with more than 40 bags of rubbish, plus other large items, removed from the River Tavy alone.

The agency also refuted Mr Mountjoy's claim that fish spawning had been disturbed.

Mr Dunning said: 'Salmon normally spawn on the Tavy from around Remembrance Sunday through to mid-January. The clean-up took place literally at the very start of the spawning season (November 11). The fish tend to spawn at night and the clean-up took place during the day. When conditions permit, salmon tend to head upstream to spawn in the headwaters of the river, ie, further up the Tavy than the stretch cleaned by the canoeists.'

The clean-ups were organised by white water kayak instructor Mark Allen, who said: 'Our volunteers picked up 200 kilograms of rubbish, including footballs, a shopping trolley and even a lawn-mower.'

Mr Allen said he and his fellow canoeists are hoping to make it an annual event.