Hundreds in beach litter clean-up

The coastline clean-up included the beach at Durdle Door

Hundreds of volunteers have taken part in a clean-up of beaches stretching 89 miles (143km) along the Dorset coast.

A total of 27 beaches from Lyme Regis in the west to Christchurch in the east were targeted on Sunday.

The coast includes the 71-mile (114km) Jurassic World Heritage Coast, the 18-mile (29km) Chesil Beach and the natural arch of Durdle Door.

The Marine Conservation Society said the amount of rubbish on UK beaches had reached its highest ever level.

A spokesman for Dorset County Council said: "This is one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world.

"The coast is peppered with bays, which act as traps for marine litter."

Local councils have been put on stand-by to collect plastic bottles for recycling.