The Formby Big Beach Clean-Up

Dozens of people headed to our stunning Formby Beach today armed with plastic bags ready for a big clean up. Today was The Big Beach Clean-up which is a voluntary activity the Marine Conservation Society has developed with Marks & Spencer as a way of involving their staff, customers, friends, family and anyone who is interested to help clean a beach and increase awareness of the problems litter in the marine environment can bring. It is also an opportunity to make people aware of what wonderful wildlife exists on our beaches and seas.

This was our friendly Lobster from Marks and Spencer (Plan A Officer - Andy Laverick)

Over fifty volunteers and more than one hundred school children came from across Merseyside to help clear up our beach. Plastic bottles, crisp packets, polystyrene, food cartons, pop bottles and even bigger things such as tarpolene and even a car bumper was retrieved!

Trinity St. Peter's School from Formby

The Mayor and Mayoress showed their support today when they turned up for a chat with organiser Andy Laverick - Plan A Officer

The Worshipful, The Mayor of Sefton for 2014-15, Cllr Kevin E Cluskey and

The Mayoress Mrs Linda Cluskey

Maricourt High School from Maghull

This isn't just about clearing up rubbish to make our beach look better, there is a serious threat to our wildlife as well. Ropes and wire for example can cause entangling of birds and other wildlife. Some of our best-loved marine wildlife is under threat from the waste and litter in our seas, with hundreds of species accidentally eating or becoming entangled in litter. Litter on our beaches is also hazardous to people so we all have a part to play in turning the tide on litter.

Last year, over 25,000 tonnes of rubbish was picked up, including 10,000 cotton buds, 25,000 crisp packets and 42,000 tin cans were collected. Cleaners also found an array of unusual items including false teeth, a hammer, a plastic leg, two motorbikes, a Smurf, a breast implant and an Action Man. Some of the rubbish is thrown from ships but, sadly, most of it is left by visitors.

The team today with 33 bin bags of rubbish collected

In todays clean up on Formby beach, over 171kilos was collected which is 33 full bin bags of rubbish. Thousands of Visitors flock to our beaches all year round and sadly, not many of them actually pick up their own litter and take it home, they think it will go out with the tide but this endangers our wildlife and we need to get the message out there....Take your litter home with you.

The message is quite simple as Kate from Formby's National Trust said "please take your rubbish home with you, that is the answer".

Please do your own little bit to help - Take your litter home.

Volunteers working hard since early this morning

Following the clean-up event today, volunteers relaxed on deckchairs and enjoyed entertainment with a twist. Giant versions of some of Britain’s best loved party games including connect four, Jenga, Twister, Draughts and Snakes & Ladders were set up on the beach for people to have fun after the litter-clearing work had been done!

Deckchairs at the ready for after the clean up

Giant Snakes and Ladders

Draughts and Jenga on the agenda

A bit of connect 4 to connect with the volunteers

This is Murphy the dog who was helping all morning and obviously fancied a bit of Snakes and Ladders

So remember next time you visit our beautiful beach, help to keep it beautiful - Take your rubbish home.

The BBC North West Crew

Marine Conservation Society

According to Samantha Fanshawe, Marine Conservation Society Chief Executive: “The Big Beach Clean-up has grown year on year, involving thousands of amazing volunteers ready to don gloves and bags and pick up the rubbish left behind by others, washed down from rivers or discarded from fishing boats and ships. Beach litter levels around the UK are sadly increasing – by over 6% according to our most recent UK survey. This fantastic partnership between M&S, charities and communities raises awareness of the issue and the need for nation-wide action across government, industry and voluntary sectors to stop litter at source.”

If you want to join in with this year's Big Beach Clean-up, it only takes an hour or two of your time, then you can spend the rest of the day enjoying the organised activities.

There is another event in the autumn.

Find your nearest beach clean and sign-up at www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish

Customers can find out more www.marksandspencer.com/plana and follow the event on twitter (@marksandspencer or search #beachclean) and facebook (www.facebook.com/marksandspencer).

Click here to see all the photos from today in our BubbleBook