Beach cleaning charity hosts inland clear-ups

Beach Buddies is to focus on cleaning up inland areas over the next week

Environmental charity Beach Buddies is set to hold two special events away from the island's coastline.

The first clean-up on Sunday will focus on the western village of St John's as the charity looks to prevent rubbish entering drains and rivers.

Founder Bill Dale said that clearing rubbish before it got into waterways was a "really good way of keeping the oceans and beaches clean".

The charity will then host a second clean-up around the Billown circuit in the south of the island ahead of the 2024 Pre-TT races, which get underway on Friday.

'Warmly welcomed'

Mr Dale said that research had shown that about "90% of rubbish arrives on beaches" through waterways leading to the sea, while "the other 10% comes from ships", with a very small amount actually dropped on beaches themselves.

The event in St John's, which will focus on the the former railway line, the riverside and footpaths, follows similar clear-ups held in conjunction with the village's primary school.

The event, which starts from the car park for the old railway station, will run between 10:30 and 12:00 BST.

On Tuesday evening, the charity will head to the Castletown to clear rubbish from the side of the southern course.

Mr Dale said that event, which is in its 10th year, was started by regular volunteers David Wilkinson and Ron Ronan and has been "warmly welcomed" by race organisers.

Starting from the Southern 100 race headquarters at 18:30, volunteers taking part in the event, which it is not open to children, have been asked to wear high visibility jackets or clothing due to it being alongside a main road.

The Pre-TT races has seen 231 entries accepted for the 2024 event, which takes place from 24 to 26 May.