Tidy-minded volunteers are being sought for the fourth annual Big Beach Clean Up on Hove beach.
The event, organised by Marks & Spencer, will take place on Wednesday, 13 May from 10am onwards.
Residents, businesses, students and societies are all invited to take part.
Matthew Rowlin, Store Manager at M&S Brighton, said: “A fantastic effort was made last year with around 250km of coastline and canals cleared which resulted in 4,000 bin bags full of litter collected across the country
“This year we’re calling upon as many local people as possible to take part in their local Big Beach Clean Up event.
It’s a great initiative that brings communities together to do something worthwhile but it’s always great fun too.”
Most of the litter collected will be common waste items such as wrappers, drink bottles and lids as well as fishing lines.
It is also likely to include wet wipes, with last week’s Marine Conservation Society survey reporting a 50% rise in the number found on beaches in 2014 compared to the previous year.
Last year 10,950 cotton buds, 21,900 wrappers, 55,600 plastic pieces were collected nationally .
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.
Sacha Berendji, Director of Retail at Marks & Spencer, said: “The Big Beach Clean Up is a great way to support the community and help safeguard the future of UK fish stocks.
“Clean waterways and beaches mean clean seas and our store colleagues up and down the country will be making preparations to clean their local beach or canal.
“We want as many customers as possible to be alongside them in May, it’s a simple, fun way to volunteer and make a difference.”
Samantha Fanshawe, MCS Chief Executive, said: “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.”
The M&S Big Beach Clean-up is part of M&S’ Forever Fish campaign which is funded by the profits from the 5p carrier bag charge in M&S foodhalls. Since its introduction in 2008, the charge has reduced carrier bag use by 75 per cent and raised over £8 million for good causes.
Since the M&S Big Beach Clean-up began in May 2012 over 20,000 people have taken part and 62.5 tonnes of litter – the weight of Challenger 2 tank – has been cleared from our canals and beaches.
