Environmental charity Hubbub (www.hub bub.org.uk) recently launched the world’s first punt made from 99% recycled plastic at the Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre in London.

Built to raise awareness of the growing levels of plastic pollution in Britain’s waterways, ‘Poly-Mer’ will be used to collect plastic litter from the Docklands area.

The recyclable material collected will then be used to build more boats, creating a “litter-busting fleet’ of vessels.

Environment Minister Thérèse Coffey MP boarded the boat for its maiden voyage, along with school-children from nearby Canary Wharf College and medal-winning British Paralympic sailor Alexandra Rickham.

Made from a hybrid composite material called Plaswood, it will continue to be used by the school-children and will be accessible to others for ‘plastic-fishing’ trips.

Trewin Restorick, chief executive and co-founder of Hubbub, said: “We built the ‘Poly-Mer’ to turn part of the problem into a solution.

"We hope it will raise awareness that everyone can play their part by tackling plastic litter closer to home, before it travels out to the ocean.”