A GROUP of divers is plotting a raid to reclaim the River Avon from a renegade shoal of supermarket trolleys.

Members of the Chippenham Diving Club hope to advance on the trolleys lurking in the depths and banish them to far-off Iceland. Not to mention Somerfield and even possibly Sainsbury's and Safeway.

Previous diving expeditions have revealed a quantity of trolleys clogging up the river, so the club sent a letter to the town's four supermarkets offering a trolley recovery service.

Somerfield has said yes and Iceland is very keen, so we're just waiting to hear from Sainsbury's and Safeway, said Nigel King of the diving club.

It will be quite a salvage operation. We've seen a large ball of trolleys under Town Bridge.

The divers will trawl the stretch of river between Town Bridge and Baydon's Bridge and Mr King estimates they might recover 25 trolleys.

The diving club is hoping the supermarkets will pay a bounty of between £10 and £15 for each one fished from the river, which will go towards the £2,000 needed for a new air compressor for the club.

The club, which meets at the Olympiad Leisure Centre, needs extra members and hopes by boosting club equipment it will attract them.