West Norfolk mayor Carol Bower joined volunteers at a coastal litter pick.

Twenty King's Lynn rotarians and pupils from Springwood High and King Edward VII schools combed nearly two miles of Snettisham Beach.

Some 711 items weighing 37kg were collected. including almost 400 pieces of plastic.

Among the more unusual items found during the event were a complete metal chair, tennis balls, shoes, a scrubbing bush, balloons and jackets.

Mrs Bower said: 'It is was good to see so many people cleaning the beach and making it safer and more pleasant for people to use.

'It was good to see the youngsters taking such an active role as it is their world that is being affected. A worry was the amount of plastics recovered.

'That, in such a short time, thirty plus kilos of materials were collected is a real sign of the problem we face, especially given that much of this is very lightweight.'