Two truckloads of garbage -- including a motorbike, two push bikes and a baby carriage -- were fished out of St. George's harbour last week during a community-sponsored effort to clean up the scenic port.

"Tourists in the area (on April 23) were fascinated by the event,'' Ms Barbara E. Lightbourn, one of the participants, said.

"And we were all horrified by the amount and nature of the trash collected.'' Overall, some 43 divers took part in the two-hour clean-up, which was organised by Mr. Christopher West, the owner and manager of the White Horse Bar and Restaurant in King's Square.

In addition to Mr. West's own team of divers, the waterfront clean-up crew consisted of volunteers from the Bermuda Sub-Aqua Club, the Reef Roamers Dive Club at the US Base, the Bermuda Biological Research Station and friends and staff of the restaurant.

Many of the participants in the event had responded to an ad of Mr. West's for help with the effort, which was concentrated on the waterfront area from Dowling's Marine Gas Station to the dinghy dock.

Beginning at 10.30 a.m. and finishing around midday, the volunteers twice filled up a truck that had been provided by the Corporation of St. George with the trash that they had retrieved.

As well as the bikes and the baby carriage, several plastic chairs, a Corporation barricade and innumerable bottles and other trash were also fished out of the water.

All of the items were eventually hauled away by the Corporation, which also provided some of the collection bags.

And afterward, Ms Lightbourn said, "Divers and helpers were treated to a free barbecue lunch, beer and a `White Horse Waterfront Clean-up 1995' T-shirt courtesy of Chris West.'' Each of the participating divers was also treated to a complimentary tank refill by the Bermuda Biological Station for Research.

UGLY HAUL -- Some samples of the volunteers' booty.