A one-hour clean-up of the Esplanade encampment in Penticton led to the recovery of several stolen items and the removal of four truck-loads of garbage.

Bylaw officers and Penticton RCMP, aided by other city departments, recently conducted a clean-up of the site.

City officials say several stolen bicycles were successfully returned to their rightful owners as a result of the work. Bylaw officers, they added, also helped recover stolen property from local businesses.

The work took one hour to complete, the city said in a social media post, with four pickup truck-loads of garbage and other items also removed from the area.

"It's been a busy time for the department, as they work to build a safer and more resilient community," officials said.

The encampment is located on the east side of Okanagan Lake in Penticton, past the marina and tennis courts.

Officers have been tasked to clear the spot on multiple occasions, including in February 2024.

A total of seven bylaw officers and two RCMP members attended to the most recent clean-up efforts.