HUNDREDS of volunteers will be out and about on the county's coast this weekend taking part in an annual beach clean-up.

HUNDREDS of volunteers will be out and about on the county's coast this weekend taking part in an annual beach clean-up.

The groups will be joining the national Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Beachwatch Big Weekend, which aims to not only clean up the shore but log details of litter found.

The survey data will be key to the MCS campaign for clean seas and beaches, aiming to halve the amount of litter on Britain's beaches by 2015.

While the event brings enormous publicity to the need to keep our shores and seas clean, the project has actually seen litter on beaches increase by a staggering 110 per cent since it began in 1994.

The four main sources of litter are from the public, fishing, sanitary waste - particularly cotton bud sticks - and shipping.

Emma Snowden MCS litter projects co-ordinator, said: “It's not too late to take part - we need the public's help to survey more beaches to tackle the relentless tide of litter threatening our beaches and wildlife.

“The information collected will help us tackle the sources of litter and campaign to reduce the most common and harmful items ending up on our beaches and killing wildlife.”

Marine litter kills wildlife, can be hazardous to people and costs millions to clear up.