VOLUNTEERS collected a vast array of rubbish from Dorset’s beaches yesterday.

The 22nd annual Great Dorset Beach Clean saw hundreds of people descend on 27 beaches from along the Jurassic coast from Lyme Regis to Christchurch.

There were Brownie groups and old age pensioners working side by side all along the coast at areas including Chesil Beach, Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and Kimmeridge Bay.

They were all overseen by members of Dorset Wildlife Trust and coastal rangers employed by Dorset County Council.

The focus of this year’s event was environment and how climate change is affecting Dorset’s coastlines.

Emma Rance, a marine officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, said that they would be sorting the rubbish to see exactly what sort of things were being disacred and washed up to assess how it is impacting on marine life.

She said: “We also count some of the finds, such as balloons, which can be fatal when turtles mistake them for jellyfish. This information helps in campaigns against some of the most dangerous marine litter.”

It is believed that as many as 100,000 marine animals, including dolphins, sharks and turtles die every year as a result of rubbish.

Organised by the Coastal Ranger Team of Dorset County Council’s Countryside Service for more than 20 years, last year’s event saw 800 people turn out to help.

Dorset County Council coastal ranger Jenny Penney said: “By helping monitor and pick up litter on our beaches, people can make a real difference.”

Volunteers were provided protective gloves, rubbish bags and grabbers.

John Carradine, 46, from Weymouth, who was taking part in his first beach clean at Kimmeridge, said: “I often come here and on the last couple of occasions I have noticed all sorts of things lying around on he beach and in the rockpools.

“Some of it undoubtedly comes from ships and has been washed across the oceans but I great deal of it is just dumped by people who visit the beach for the day.”

His son Mark, 11, said: “I love coming to the beach and swimming and I just don’t understand why anyone would want to leave rubbish on it.”