Rope, oil drums, fast food containers and a mop were just some of the items collected by eco-warriors on north Norfolk beaches this weekend.

Eastern Daily Press: Sheringham beach clean. Anne and Bob Smith from Sheringham.Picture: ANTONY KELLYSheringham beach clean. Anne and Bob Smith from Sheringham.Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2014)

Volunteers took to Sheringham west beach and Bacton today and Sea Palling yesterday as part of the national Great British Beach Clean organised by the Marine Conservation Society's (MCS) Beachwatch programme.

Every piece of rubbish was written down on a survey, which will be collated by the MCS.

At Sea Palling 15kg was collected by three people, 76kg was picked up at Bacton and 15 large black bags were filled at Sheringham.

Hilary Nelson, co-ordinator of the Sheringham In Bloom beach clean group, said: 'The beach is vital for Sheringham as it relies on tourism. You don't want to sit on a beach covered in rubbish. If it is clean the sea is clean.'

Eastern Daily Press: Volunteers on the Bacton beach clean event. (From left) Phil Wills, Moyra Wills, Shelly Duddy, Chris Duddy and Sally Hoyden. Picture: LISA DUDDYVolunteers on the Bacton beach clean event. (From left) Phil Wills, Moyra Wills, Shelly Duddy, Chris Duddy and Sally Hoyden. Picture: LISA DUDDY (Image: Archant)

She added: 'Beach cleans are good because they are a way of educating people and making children particularly aware of the hazards. It sends out the right message to generations.'

Rubbish collected was washed up from boats or left by visitors.

Plastic was the most common waste picked up at Sheringham by the 25 volunteers.

Shelly Duddy, Beachwatch organiser for Bacton, Walcott and Sea Palling, said a lot of rope and plastic was found at Bacton and chip boxes, balloon string and human litter was found at Sea Palling.

She said: 'It is important to have a clean beach to stop the litter going into the ocean and destroying the marine environment. It is a shame to see the beaches being destroyed. If you take something with you to the beach, take it home with you.'

The Sheringham In Bloom beach clean group, led by Mrs Nelson, holds nine cleans a year along the west, tourist and east beach.

It will be holding another clean up on November 2 from 10am. Meet at the lifeboat house on the west promenade.

To get involved email hilary.nelson@tiscali.co.uk

Miss Duddy is holding a beach clean at Sea Palling on October 18. Meet at the Reefs Bar on Beach Road.

For details visit www.mcsuk.org/beachwatch or search Beach clean ups in Bacton Walcott and Sea palling Norfolk on Facebook.

Are you organising a beach event in north Norfolk? Email sophie.wyllie@archant.co.uk