Plans for the river which runs through the heart of Frome include ambitious plans to rebuild a key weir and lower the banks to create a town centre picnic area.

At their Annual General Meeting Frome Town Councillors heard that campaigners have a ten year plan which would include completing the riverside walkway from Spring Gardens through to Blatchbridge - a stretch of five miles.

The Friends of the River Frome have detailed how the river needs to be protected from pollution and development, while opening up to more visitors.

Simon Keyes told them: " We believe that the river is central to the town's identity... it has never been more important to enhance and conserve it."

Aside from the threat from pollution - and he reminded councillors that it was only a few years ago that thousands of fish in the River Frome were killed by agricultural pollutants - the river was facing threats from flooding, building work, and from the invasion of non-native species such as the crayfish.

While the volunteers from the Friends continue clearing litter from the river, and day to day conservation work, they have developed a 24 project plan for the next ten years.

: Replacing the weir at Welshmill, which was built around 50 years ago

: Create a six mile long river trail along the main stretch through Frome.

With the support of Frome Town Council the group will now be looking for sources of funding and partnerships to move the plan forward.

They are also keen for new members to help with clearing and cleaning of the river.

The Friends of the River Frome are all volunteers and can be contacted here: the Friends website