You can do your bit for the environment and help clean up the coast.

The Great British Beach Clean will return next week, when litter picks will take place at West Bay and Charmouth in a bid to help the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) combat marine pollution.

All are encouraged to take to the coast and help clean a beach.

West Dorset volunteers will be joining an army of beach cleaners around the UK. Along with cleaning, volunteers are also asked to record every piece of litter they pick up which helps the MCS in its work to combat marine pollution.

Data collected from the beaches around the UK is published by MCS the following spring in the Great British Beach Clean report which is used at regional, national and international levels to raise awareness of the impacts of marine litter, to promote measures to reduce litter at source and to campaign for marine litter legislation.

Last year, more than 190 volunteers helped at Dorset beach cleans, some of which were undertaken in conjunction with landowners and wildlife organisations.

The data collected by volunteers has supported changes including the 5p carrier bag charge, better wet wipe labelling and supporting a tax on single-use plastic items and the banning of microbeads in personal hygiene products.

So far, more than 319 tonnes of litter have been collected thanks to the Great British Beach Clean.

To help clean up West Bay, head to West Beach on Saturday, September 21, between 2pm and 4pm

For more information on this event, contact organiser Samantha Rami by emailing Samantha.rami@parkdean-resorts.com or calling 01308 422424.

Charmouth's clean-up is being organised by the Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre on the same day between 2.30pm and 4pm. Equipment is provided but you should bring gloves and buckets if you have them. Meet at the centre's steps.

For more information about the Great British Beach Clean,visit mcsuk.org