MORE than 80 volunteers took part in two Marine Conservation Society beach cleans organised by Plastic Free Communities at Dunster and Minehead recently - resulting in a massive haul of litter which included fly-tipped bathroom tiles, a tent and a new camping stove.

A total of 44 people participated in the Plastic Free Exmoor Dunster beach clean when, over the course of two hours, families and volunteers of all ages collected a mass of marine debris and litter.

Among the items recovered were substantial quantities of fishing line and net, toy trucks, several pieces of Lego and a Ski yoghurt pot dating back to the 1970s.

The following day 41 volunteers joined Plastic Free Minehead for the Minehead beach clean and town litter pick.

A spokesperson for the event said: “The amount of litter collected from the beach, as well as from the roads and footpaths surrounding the seafront, was remarkable.

“The haul included nine sacks of unrecyclable waste, two trugs filled with plastic bottles, two trugs of aluminium cans and one trug of glass bottles. Among the more unusual finds were a paddleboard oar, a tent, two lobster pots, a fire extinguisher and a brand-new gas camping stove.”

At each event, a 100-metre stretch of beach was surveyed and debris recorded and weighed. The results will go to the national database maintained by the Marine Conservation Society.

This database provides an annual snapshot of the state of the UK’s coastline and supports the charity’s conservation work as well as informing campaigns that lead to positive change for the oceans.

Data collected in previous years has contributed to the introduction of the plastic bag charge and the ban on microplastics in personal care products.

The impact of plastic waste was particularly evident during these surveys, with 97 per cent of the items collected at Dunster and 82 per cent at Minehead made from plastic.

The spokesperson added: “These figures highlight the pressing issue of plastic pollution in our environment. Plastic Free Communities in West Somerset would like to thank everyone who volunteered their time for these beach cleans.

“Special appreciation goes to the Beach Hotel at Minehead, Dunster Beach Holidays, the Minehead and Coast Development Trust, the Severn Estuary Partnership and Our Precious Earth for their support in organising and managing the events.

“We are thrilled to have led these Great British Beach Clean events and to support the ongoing work of the Marine Conservation Society.

“The sheer volume and diversity of plastic items found demonstrate the significant impact of plastic waste on our coasts, countryside and communities. We hope this encourages everyone to reduce their use of single-use plastics.

“Thank you to all who volunteered and helped raise awareness about the impact of litter on our environment.”

More than 700 communities are now working to outlaw single use plastic as part of a plastic free campaign by the marine conservation charity Surfers Against Sewage.

For more information about Plastic Free Communities in West Somerset and future beach cleans, visit their Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/plasticfreecommunitieswestsomerset