Beachcomber's cleaning crusade

Sue Sims, of Peartree Lane, combined dog-walking with litter collection after she noticed a large amount of beach pollution in January.

Sue said: "I was walking along the beach with my dog and noticed all this plastic rope strewn over Bexhill beach. I was down at Southcliffe.

"Now I do this all the time. I walk my dog along the beach and if the tide is out I go down and pick things up, to the extent that I now find it difficult to leave a plastic bag on the beach."

On Wednesday, April 8, the Marine Conservation Society published a report showing litter levels on British beaches are the highest in recorded history, having risen by 110% since the annual survey began in 1994.

Public litter was the major source of pollution in the South East.

Sue said: "I regularly find plastic bags, nappys, old cans. I even removed an entire rubber boat left there because it had a puncture.

"In the area around Glyne Gap there's even an old window frame stuck in the beach."

"It's quite an emotive issue when I see people dumping so much rubbish there.

"It's about people having a consciousness of what they're doing, not relying on the fact that there might be a beach cleaner. He can only clean up what's left after the tide has gone in and out again."

Sue claims the problem is compounded because Rother District Council's beach cleaning service does not operate all year round.

She said: "As we're coming up to summer it's a good time for people to be aware of the potential rubbish left on the beach. Let's all just think about putting something in the bin, or taking it home."

A spokesman from RDC said: "There is a statutory requirement that amenity beaches should be kept clear of litter and refuse between 1 May and 30 September. The Council recognises the importance of clean beaches and makes regular clearance of these beaches over an extended period, generally from a short time before Easter to 30 September, although this may be extended should weather conditions be favourable.

"Over the winter period some limited clearance operations are made, but their effectiveness has to be balanced against the additional costs involved. Sometimes, the benefit of clearance can be short lived and cannot therefore be considered as cost effective.

"The Council maintains high standards with its beach cleaning and has been very successful in receiving awards for several of its beaches."