The ‘sea’ of traffic cones uncovered in Rochdale Canal (Picture: Cavendish)

Abandoned bikes, shopping trolleys and traffic cones – this is the pitiful state of the Rochdale Canal.

Crossing the rugged heights of the Pennines, it runs for 33 miles from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge.

Though at the heart of a number of leisure boating trips, what lies at the bottom may shock tourists.

Workers were forced to drain the city centre canal to carry out vital repairs on the waterways.

The usually picturesque stretch of Rochdale Canal now looks like this (Picture: Cavendish Press)

A wine glass was one of the more unusual items in he mud (Picture: Cavendish Press)

Other trash included bikes, shopping trolleys and suitcases (Picture: Cavendish Press)

But as the water cleared out, a ‘sea’ of rubbish was uncovered.

A hoard of swivel chairs, old clothes, suitcases and even a child’s pushchair were amongst the items dumped in the water.

All the fish have also been removed as part of the works.

Officials from the Canal and River Trust said the water was being drained so that repairs could be being carried out to Lock 85, known as the ‘Undercroft’.

The canal is being drained for repair works (Picture: Cavendish Press)

All fish were also taken out (Picture: Cavendish Press)

Volunteers are being urged to join the efforts to clean up the canal (Picture: Cavendish Press)

It is near to Manchester’s iconic Gay Village on Canal Street.

A large clean up operation to rid the empty canal of debris and rubbish is being organised for this week, with volunteers encouraged to take part.

A Canal and River Trust spokesperson said: ‘Our skilled team are now replacing old lock gates with new handcrafted ones and other masonry works will be done.

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‘These important works will help ensure that the Trust’s waterways can continue to be navigated by boats and remain vital green and blue spaces that are free to visit and benefit the millions of people who have a canal on their doorstep.

‘We will also be doing a big clean up with our volunteers to remove all the debris and rubbish that’s built up in the canal.’

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A ‘sea’ of rubbish was uncovered.