THE mayor of Upton says that he has been given assurances that the riverside will be left in satisfactory condition once an operation to remove more than 2,000 tonnes of dumped rocks is complete.

The Environment Agency is currently getting rid of the rocks, which were piled in to the river while new flood defences built but then left for more than 12 months.

The rocks were put in to minimise the risk of an historic riverside wall collapsing during the construction work.

But they have since been labelled an eyesore by residents and councillors.

Mayor Peter Webb said he has been told a small number of rocks will be left at the base of the wall.

He added: “I have been assured that the area will be left in good, serviceable condition.

That is an assurance that has been given to me in public.”