WATCHET could become a plastic-free town within the next few weeks, by outlawing single-use plastic in the fight against sea pollution, Watchet mayor Cllr John Irven told more than 70 anti-litter campaigners at a ceremony on the Esplanade.

Centre-piece of the event was ‘Blue Boy’, a life-sized sculpture by artist Tim Lyddon, made from 115 pieces of discarded personal protection equipment picked up on the Watchet and Minehead beaches, and known to be harmful to wildlife.

Cllr Irven presented awards to the first five Watchet businesses to support the Surfers Against Sewage campaign to eliminate single-use plastic such as bags, cups knives and forks – the result of a Watchet town council pledge a year ago to make the town plastic-free.

Wooden plaques honouring their achievement went to Matt Driscoll, manager of Watchet Harbour Marina, Sandy Pearce, of New Horizons, Samantha Godden, owner of Chives, Liz Snell, owner of the Corner Café, and Fiona Payne representing the town’s visitor’s centre.

Congratulating them, the mayor said Watchet would achieve recognition as a plastic-free town possibly by the end of January.

He warned of the massive amount of plastic clogging up areas of the Bristol Channel, killing fish and destroying marine habitats.

Through beach cleans around the country organised regularly by Surfers Against Sewage it was known that at least 5,000 pieces of marine plastic pollution are found for every mile of British beach.

A spokesman said: “All PPE is made from, or will contain, plastic in some form which we know can be extremely harmful to wildlife.

“Please think carefully before using and disposing of PPE equipment. Carry it securely and remember that masks can be washed and re-used.”

So far, 730 towns and villages around the UK have eliminated single-use plastics and are working to change the system which produces it. Minehead, Exmoor National Park and Watchet could be joining the list within the next few weeks.