Beach clean-up to review litter

Wildlife trusts say it is important to reduce litter on beaches

Beaches across Devon and Cornwall are being targeted in an annual litter survey and clean-up this weekend.

Hundreds of volunteers will be collecting valuable data for the Marine Conservation Society's Beachwatch campaign, as well as trying to reduce litter.

In Devon, around 20 beaches are being cleaned, including Combe Martin and Instow beaches in north Devon, Coxside in Plymouth, and the Shaldon and the Ness in Torbay.

Rubbish will be picked up from under the sea and along 43 stretches of Cornish sand.

Valuable information

Last year, 2,500 volunteers nationwide collected almost 250,000 items of litter from beaches.

By surveying and collecting beach litter, volunteers provide the Marine Conservation Society with essential data for targeting polluters and highlighting how big a problem litter is.

Local wildlife trusts are supporting the campaign, saying it is important to look at the sources of litter and to try to reduce them.

Tidy Plymouth officer Kevin Mott, who is taking part in the campaign, said the weekend will provide valuable information.

He said: "The society will analyse the amounts of litter and the types of litter and compare that to previous years to see whether anything is on the increase or decrease.

"It will be looking at the different types of litter and working out where it has come from. The society will then be able to target those sources more effectively."