DOZENS of volunteers helped spruce up a west Dorset beach by removing rubbish at the weekend.

More than 70 people took part in the first community beach clean at Charmouth on Saturday (3), as almost 100 bags of rubbish were collected.

The clean-up enjoyed notable support from pupils at Charmouth Primary School, the local scouts group, as well as volunteers at the Charmouth Heritage Centre and members of the public - who donned gloves and litter pickers to help the tidy-up.

The event was organised by the Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign, in partnership with Charmouth Heritage Centre in response to the amount of beach litter brought onto the shore by the recent winter storms.

Tom Oliver, Litter Free Coast and Sea project assistant said: "After the overwhelming response from volunteers, we will be setting up a Litter Free Coast and Sea beach group.

"This means that everyone can get involved on a regular basis with helping to keep the beach clean and get support they need to run campaigns in their local area to reduce litter or improve bathing water quality safe for swimming"

Volunteers collects a host of items during the event, including discarded fishing nets, a variety of disposable plastic items and even the bottom of a kayak.

Alison Ferris, Charmouth Heritage Centre warden said: "It is great that everyone has that community spirit here and wanted to get involved.

"Thanks go to our volunteers and junior rangers and also to Charmouth Primary for circulating the event and getting families involved.

"The kids were great as they knew the effects the rubbish has on our beaches but also had fun creating monsters using the little pickers and the gloves. We could not have asked more from everyone, they were simply great."

A Litter Free Coast and Sea week is being planned from April 23 until May 1. It will be coordinated by the Litter Free Coast and Sea campaign and the Dorset Coast Forum and will consist of a week of events and campaigns to raise awareness about beach and marine litter as well as bathing water quality issues. The special week will include the traditional Great Dorset Beach Clean.

If you have an event or an idea for an event that could be run during the Litter Free Coast and Sea week or would like to join the Charmouth Litter Free Coast and Sea Beach Group please contact litterfreecoastsea@dorsetcc.gov.uk , call 01305 224731.