CAMPAIGNERS cleaning up the shore of Windermere are trying to identify a mystery ‘widget’ after hundreds were found washed up.

The cylindrical plastic objects, possibly some kind of filter, were found along the water’s edge from Low Wood Bay to Waterhead over the last few months.

They have been collected in a mammoth litter-pick by Ambleside parish handyman Robin Lees, who has been hailed by green campaigners Windermere Reflections.

“I’ve found hundreds of them,” said Robin, whose patch covers a 50-square mile area from Dunmail Raise to Troutbeck Bridge and out to the Langdales.

“Somebody must know what they are, and somebody must be dumping them in the lake.”

Robin, who is employed for two days a week, is a keen supporter of the Winderclean campaign, Windermere Reflections programme manager Liz Davey said.

“He does a great job picking up the litter left behind by visitors and locals,” she said. “He works alongside our volunteer litter-pickers. We are always looking out for more volunteers to adopt a patch of land and keep it tidy and free of rubbish.”

Robin has been out litter-picking from hedgerows from Waterhead to Wansfell Road, car parks and lay-bys, and cleaning road signs. At White Moss lower car park he collected more than 60 discarded bags of dog poo in one day.

He said: “We have to shame people to change this behaviour. It’s obvious that local people are guilty as well as visitors.”

Anyone who can identify the widgets is asked to call Debbie on 015394-34401.