EIGHTEEN volunteers took part in a Plastic Free Exmoor beach clean on Greenaleigh Sand, near Minehead, at the weekend.

After walking from Minehead to Greenaleigh, they set about picking up and removing the ocean debris and litter along the shingle ridge.

They collected more 150 plastic bottles, 80 tin cans, and enough fishing line, nets, and ropes to fill another sack.

The beach clean was supported by Exmoor National Park’s ranger team, who provided a trailer to remove the rubbish for recycling and disposal.

The group’s community lead, Peter Hoyland, said: “I would like to thank the wonderful volunteers who gave up their Saturday morning to help with this beach clean.

“An incredible amount of debris was removed from the Exmoor and West Somerset coastline, much of which may well have ended up back in the sea on the next set of high tides if had not been removed.

“Surprising finds included a fridge, a tent, a sleeping bag, a motorcycle crash helmet, a pack of unused socks, and numerous plant pots.

“It is estimated that in total over 150 kg of debris was recovered.

“Thank you also to the Exmoor National Park ranger team for their support.”

The beach clean, was part of the Surfers Against Sewage ‘Million Mile Clean’ campaign, and a record was made of all of the branded items found, with the information being shared with the marine conservation charity.

Information about future community beach cleans can be found on the Plastic Free Communities in West Somerset and Exmoor Facebook page.