A NEW shredder gifted to volunteers by the owners of Castle Quay Shopping Centre is making light work of canalside undergrowth.

Members of the Banbury Canal Partnership, which looks after the local stretch of the Oxford Canal, received the Titan Shredder from Aberdeen Asset Management.

The group works all year round to keep the iconic canal looking its best, keeping the towpath clear and safe by removing overhanging tree branches, hedges and undergrowth.

BCP chairman Colin Garnham-Edge said: "As most of the canal we look after is nowhere near a road, we have to use a small boat to collect all of the branches and logs we cut and then transport them away from the work site to be shredded. This is time-consuming, which is a real problem when you have limited time from volunteers.

"Now we can do the shredding quickly where we work, saving both time and money. It’s also great for the environment because we can turn these fragments into compost."

Cameron Murray of Aberdeen Asset Management added: "We are delighted to be working with BCP as they do vital maintenance to this beautiful canal.

"The shredder means that the hard-working volunteers can more easily keep the paths clear for walkers and cyclists to enjoy safely."