A new initiative to reduce plastic waste on the seafront has been launched.

Lyme Regis has followed in the footsteps of West Bay and installed recycling tubes around the harbour and Cobb.

The tubes are used to recycle fishing lines and were set up by Sally Holman, former mayor of Lyme Regis, with the support of local businesses and the harbourmaster.

She said: “It came about after there was quite a lot of alarm at the amount of plastic on the strand after a gale.

“Some residents, including me, got concerned about this and I found out that Turn Lyme Green were already doing everything they could, and someone sent me a photo of the tube in West Bay.

“I decided to look for sponsorship from local businesses and I received the backing from the harbour master, who I worked with to decide the positioning of the tubes and the harbour engineers made the tubes, with the sponsorship money paying for the materials.

“When we had nearly finished and just about to put labels on, I heard there was money available from Litter Free Dorset, so I worked with them to get some great graphics done.”

The tubes are being managed by local sea anglers, with Darren Herbert of The Tackle Box collecting the discarded fishing line and sending it off for recycling.

Sponsorship and support for the four tubes also comes from The Slipway shop, The Wet Fish Shop, Steve Postles, Deli-Weli and Cllr Daryl Turner.

Sally added: “This is about local people coming together to make something work and we have had great support.

“It’s a drop in the ocean but anything that makes you feel like you are doing something is worth it. “When local people get together, they can make things happen.”

The initiative is being taken on all over the country.

Cllr Daryl Turner said: “I think these are brilliant tubes.

“Hopefully these will collect bits of discarded line which would normally end up in the sea.”