A MAN who has spent two years clearing up a former Highcliffe beauty spot is appealing for volunteers to lend a hand.

Paul Hardie learned to fish at Lakewood off Braemar Drive in Highcliffe when he was a pupil at Highcliffe Comprehensive School.

His teacher, fellow Highcliffe pupil Nigel Day, who lived next to Lakewood, taught many of the local youngsters to fish, with one even becoming a professional match fisherman.

But sadly years after school, Paul found out Nigel died of Cystic Fibrosis in 1990.

Now, Paul has launched himself into a major spruce-up of the rundown Lakewood and wants to put a bench there dedicated to Nigel.

Paul, who started the work in November 2011, said he was told by the council not to do any more without their supervision.

A number of volunteer days have taken place since to try and get the work done.

Paul designed a special dredger to clear the lake and give depth back to the fish as well as clearing branches.

“There is still a lot of work still to do. We need to put benches back in as they were wrecked and replant lilies and reeds and more”, he said.

“But we have to wait until the council can be there. The more help we have, the better.

“I want to restore Lakewood back to its former glory, and dedicate a bench to Nigel Day in the vain hope that the council, once I’ve finished the lake, will give it back to the children to fish.”

Robin Harley, CBC countryside officer, said: “We are grateful for Paul’s help and support. Working in a small team, he has given a large amount of his own time to help improve the environment at Lakewood.”

To help Paul out on the next clear-up in September email him on pbhardie1@gmail.com.