Surfers clean up beach rubbish

The collected rubbish is being posted back to the firms involved

Surfers have taken time out from a competition to pick up beach litter as part of a clean-up campaign.

Return to Offender, organised by Cornwall-based Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), is aimed at companies whose products are found on beaches.

The group asks firms to put anti-litter markings on their products and also to promote recycling.

Rubbish was collected from Thurso beach in Scotland, where surfers are competing in the O'Neill Highland Open.

I love the idea behind this campaign - it does exactly what it says on the tin Sam Lamiroy, surfer

Andy Cummins, from SAS, said crisp packets, sweet wrappers and used oil drums were among the discarded detritus collected on Tuesday.

"The Return to Offender campaign is our chance to show the manufacturers of this rubbish that we do not accept the ocean and the beach as a dumping ground for their rubbish," he said.

The rubbish will now be posted back to the head offices of the companies involved.

Cornish surfer Sam Lamiroy, from Perranporth, believes the campaign has the correct target.

Cornish surfer Russell Winter also won the best wave award in Thurso

He said: "I love the idea behind this campaign - it does exactly what it says on the tin.

"I'm glad that SAS has given us this campaigning opportunity to go head-to-head with those responsible for the litter."

The Marine Conservation Society's 2005 Beachwatch survey revealed nearly 2,000 pieces of litter for every 0.6 miles (1km) of beach surveyed in the UK.

About 160 surfers have been taking part in the O'Neill Highland Open, including competitors from Australia, Brazil and America.

The Scottish open was won by Cornishman and top British seed Russell Winter.