AN ARTIST has built a giant takeaway carton sculpture on Weymouth Beach to remind people not to litter.

Jack Raisey, an architectural designer, built the sculpture as part of a campaign to prevent litter ending up in the sea and harming wildlife.

Eight million pieces of plastic find their way into the oceans every day according to Litter Free Coast and Sea, the organisation that commissioned the artwork.

The sculpture is two and a half metres tall and five metres long and is said to represent typical single use plastic, take away food and drink items in giant size.

Graphics seen on the sculptures have been designed by Rowena Taylor to promote the choices we can all make to combat the impact plastic and our waste is having on the planet.

Jack Raisey the artist said: “The sculptures will not only create a striking silhouette against the beach scape but are designed to encourage people stop and think, even if only for a second. If everyone made small changes, it adds up to make a big difference.”

The project follows a move by Weymouth Town Council to ban single use plastic from beach catering huts, as recently reported in the Echo.

The sculptures have also been built on other beaches on the Jurassic Coast: Bournemouth, West Bay and Lyme Regis. They will remain in place until the end of August.

Gwen Hawkins, coordinator of Litter Free Coast and Sea, said “We want to engage with people using the beaches and help them be more aware of the damage littering causes, with the aim of reducing food and drink related litter such as bottles, trays, cutlery and barbecues.

"The sculptures Jack has created will get people's attention and make them think about the impact they have while at the beach”.

The campaign is part of a wider Dorset Coastal Connections project which aims to support and boost the economies of Dorset’s coastal areas. It is being funded by a grant from the government’s Coastal Communities Fund.

Partners include Litter Free Coast and Sea, Dorset Food and Drink, and the Arts Development Company, plus Dorset Council and Weymouth Town Council.

See www.dorsetcoasthaveyoursay.co.uk for more information.