HUNDREDS of bags of litter and various large items were removed from the Dorset coastline and country lanes in a series of events to tackle litter problems in recent weeks.

April 2 until April 10 was Litter Free Dorset’s annual Great Dorset Beach Clean which saw hundreds of volunteers take part from Christchurch to Lyme Regis.

More than 250 volunteers joined the clean-ups, collecting 100 bags of rubbish, including the usual suspects – fishing rope, cigarette butts and plastic bottles – plus some slightly unusual items including wellie boots, balloons and oil drums from the beaches of the county.

Sophie Colley, Litter Free Dorset’s coordinator said: “A big thank you to everyone involved in the recent Great Dorset Beach Clean, West Dorset litter pick and Keep Britain Tidy events, plus regular beach clean and litter picking events.

“Everyone’s combined efforts to clean up our streets, green spaces and coastline will not only improve how our local areas look and feel but help prevent new materials from entering our waterways and marine environment.

“All this, while removing materials and degrading plastics that may have been in the local environment and sea for many years.”

Alongside the Great Dorset Beach Clean, Keep Britain Tidy’s UK-wide Great British Spring Clean and Great Big School Clean initiatives both took place between March 25 and April 10.

In Dorset, individuals, community groups, schools and local councils pledged to pick up as much litter as possible.

Over April 1-2, Litter Free West Dorset and Clean Up Dorset Squad also arranged a west Dorset litter pick, supported by the Preventing Plastic Pollution project.

Hundreds of residents grabbed their litter pickers and got involved with tidying up their local areas.

Teams were organised across the west Dorset area and altogether it was estimated more than 150 bags of litter were cleared from lanes in the area, as well as significant quantities of larger items.

Now Litter Free Dorset is calling for residents and visitors alike to continue to take their litter home or use the bin when out and about at the coast or in the countryside this summer.

Those interested in being part of future cleans can find further information via the Litter Free Dorset website.