The Bridport Ukrainian Hardship Fund has organised a beach clean at West Bay this weekend.

It will take place from 10am until 11.30am on Sunday, February 12.

Everyone is welcome and participants should meet at West Bay East Pier at 10am.

Organiser Nick Tait said the idea for the beach clean came about because the hardship fund group wanted to take part in an activity that would benefit the Bridport area itself.

He said: "Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Bridport Ukrainian Hardship Fund (administered by Reverend Deb Smith and the Reverend Pete Stone of the Parish of Bridport and Will Austin, Bridport Town Council Clerk) has helped the guests who have fled the fighting and found a home in Bridport and surrounding villages.

"Far from their homeland, and separated from friends and family, the guests have needed help settling in and finding their place in their adopted home.

"The assistance provided generally involves helping with transport - for example buying new bike tyres so a family can cycle into town to do their shopping - or other day-to-day necessities.

“The horrors unleashed by the Russian attack are so far away, and on such a large scale, that you can feel powerless to do anything constructive. But we’ve got families in our town who’ve had to flee the destruction, so we can certainly do our bit for them.

"I really admire people who do sponsored walks, runs, swims and all the rest, but I thought it would be even better to do something that would benefit Bridport itself at the same time as fundraising.

"When I discussed this with Gordon, who volunteers for Clean Jurassic Coast, he had the perfect solution - a beach clean down at West Bay.”

Donations can be made to the Bridport Ukrainian Hardship Fund through JustGiving. A link can be found on the Facebook page.

There are collection tins in Bridport Tourist Information Centre and there will also be a collection at the beach on the day.