Isle of Man beach clean campaign was 'huge success'

A computer and a Scalextric track were among items found

A series of seven beach cleaning sessions in the Isle of Man have been described as a "huge success".

More than 60 bags of rubbish were collected from several beaches in a clean-up arranged by Beach Buddies for the 2012 BeachWatch campaign.

Organiser Bill Dale said: "It has been a huge success and the best part is the number of new volunteers."

Beach Buddies now plans to start a new Adopt a Beach campaign.

Mr Dale said: "It has been fantastic to see so many new faces helping and we need to keep up the good work.

"We hope that local groups will get involved with our Adopt a Beach campaign and look after them throughout the year. We have already received interest from several groups which is very exciting."

Scalextric track

During the week-long clean, among the items recovered were a Dublin City Council sign, a TV and a Scalextric track.

The BeachWatch campaign, run in conjunction with the Marine Conservation Society, will finish at Fleshwick in the south of the island later.

The campaign included beach cleans at several island locations including Gansey, Chapel Beach and The Lhen.

A basking shark was recently filmed with plastic around its nose in Manx waters

In recent months a litter warning was issued after a basking shark was filmed in Manx waters with plastic around its nose, and a grey seal was pictured with plastic around its throat near Kitterland.

Mr Dale said: "We are working to make the beaches safer and more beautiful but we really need all the help we can get.

"It's like painting the Forth Bridge - as soon as you have done one, you have to get started on another because we have a real problem on the Isle of Man.

"What we want to promote is a sense of pride within the community about the island's coastline, we have some of the most spectacular scenery in the British Isles here on the island and if we all pull together we can make it even better."