A HUSBAND and wife from Weymouth are campaigning to raise money to help clean Dorset's coastline, after seeing the trail of destruction left by last month-s visitors to Durdle Door.

Like many Dorset residents, Rhea Soulsby-Phillips, 33, and her husband Dave Phillips, 36, have been disgusted to see countless posts on social media about the mountains of rubbish left at beauty spots across the county by beach-goers.

After becoming increasingly frustrated by the number of visitors who kept treating the Dorset coastline like a toilet, they decided to join Clean Jurassic Coast, a volunteer network that protects the coast, organises beach cleans and educates people on the need to look after our coasts and seas.

Together they took part in a beach clean at Durdle Door and were shocked by the devastation they saw. Mrs Soulsby-Phillips said: "I did not mentally prepare myself for the hell and devastation that the beach is having to endure every single day. There was rubbish everywhere. It was soul destroying. A small group of volunteers picked up tampons, sanitary towels, human excrement, wee in bottles, tents, chairs, probably a million fag butts, bottle tops, broken glass, KFC bags full of chicken bones, pants, socks, sandals, the list goes on.

"I cleaned this beach once and I was emotionally and physically destroyed. There are lots of incredible organisations, charities and volunteer networks who pick up other people's litter every day. I am so in awe of them. So humbled by their strength and perseverance in the face of adversity. They need us. They need us to share their story and to help them in this never-ending fight."

To try and help Clean Jurassic Coast, Rhea and Dave will clean seven beaches in seven days and are asking for donations so they can also raise money for Clean Jurassic Coast.

Mrs Soulsby-Phillips added: "They need our help. They are in desperate need of safety equipment, even more so whilst we are still facing the power of Covid-19. They need sanitation gel, litter grabbers, bags, gloves, first aid kits.

"They also really need financial backing to help them work towards solving the bigger issue, lack of education. They need to run websites, organise volunteer initiatives, post sponsored marketing campaigns, create their own merchandise to spread awareness, organise and run educational visits and events.

"Surely it's the least we can do for them after all the years of quite literally blood, sweat and tears to keep our beaches clean."

Rhea and Dave have not decided which beaches they will clean yet, but to donate to their cause, please visit the fundraising page here.