Beach clean-ups after crowds leave litter along North East coast

20 July 2022

Image source, Estelle Zauner-Maughan
Image caption,
Volunteers collected bags of rubbish left on King Edward's Bay at Tynemouth
Image source, Estelle Zauner-Maughan
Image caption,
Empty bottles of alcohol and balloons were left on King Edwards Bay, Tynemouth
Image source, Seaham Seaside Swimmers
Image caption,
Seaham Seaside Swimmers collected 10 bags of rubbish at the Slope, Seaham Marina after crisp packets, plastic bottles and nappies were left on the sand
Image source, Explore SeaScapes
Image caption,
Volunteers from Explore SeaScapes collected 20 bags of rubbish from South Shields beach - mostly cans and bottles, along with disposable barbecues, broken glass, dirty nappies, plastic toys and clothing
Image source, Explore SeaScapes
Image caption,
South Tyneside Council beach cleaners tackling litter abandoned on South Shields' beaches
Image caption,
Julie Howard from Hartlepool Big Town Tidy-Up said 40 bags of litter were removed from Seaton Carew beach

Volunteers and beach cleaners collected dozens of bags of litter after the hot weather drew large crowds to North East beaches.

Many said they were upset about the amount of rubbish left behind.

Local swimming groups and volunteers filled bin and carrier bags with rubbish to prevent it from being swept into the sea.

Julie Howard, a volunteer with Hartlepool Big Town Tidy-Up said 40 bags of litter were removed from Seaton Carew beach.

"The beach was left in a pretty disgraceful condition, the beaches were full all day and evening and people had just left behind their litter, so plastic bottles, barbecues, lots of broken glass and beach towels, a really disappointing state," she said.

One regular swimmer said the beach at Seaham Marina was "disgusting" with so much rubbish including 15 beach towels left behind.

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Beach clean-ups after crowds leave litter along North East coast

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