Magnet fishing: A hobby cleaning up French rivers

LACROIX-SAINT-OUEN, France - Equipped with powerful magnets, history enthusiasts and environmentalists scour France's rivers, pulling out bits of scrap metal, bikes, scooters and the odd kitchen appliance.

Sometimes they fish out other more unexpected objects from the water, such as unexploded munitions.

Magnet fishing has fast become a popular pastime, according to public safety officials, but French authorities have clamped down over fears that historic battle sites could still harbor active weapons.