The Marine Conservation Society is calling for enthusiastic volunteers to join their recruits for when they mobilise their nation-wide attack against litter. Every year the MCS gathers thousands of volunteers that wage war on the litter-bug and launch the biggest-ever beach-blitz.

Last year 1,378 volunteers collected nearly 200,000 items of rubbish from more than 150 beaches. Since 1994 the density of litter on our beaches has doubled, which say experts, is largely down to the longevity of plastic packaging, the key factor to the accumulation of waste in the marine environment. One item of rubbish collected last year was a Golden Wonder crisp packet that still wielded a price label of 5d and featured a competition to win a Triumph Herald estate!

The information collected last year identifies the main contributors of rubbish as recreational beach users, and part of the project is aimed at educating people about preserving our environment, the moto could be to “fight them on the beaches”.

If you can spare some time to help look after our beaches, contact the Marine Conservation Society on 01989 566017 or email beachwatch@mcsuk.org