Volunteers are being urged to give Dorset's beaches a spring clean on Sunday 20^th April by taking part in the 20^th Great Dorset Beach Clean.

25 beaches across Dorset are taking part, where volunteers will be removing plastics and other litter from the shore. Anyone is welcome to come and help out and Beach Masters will be on hand at every beach to dish out rubbish sacks and gloves and to assist volunteers as they arrive. All volunteers need do is wear suitable clothes and footwear and bring along plenty of enthusiasm!

Last year's event saw approximately 700 volunteers collect more than 800 sacks of litter from Dorset's beautiful coastline.  Organisers, Dorset Countryside Ranger Service and the Dorset Coast Forum, hope this year's anniversary event will be even more successful.

John Hayes, Dorset Countryside Ranger with Dorset County Council, says "We have been organising the Beach Clean for 20 years to try to keep coastal rubbish pollution in Dorset under control. The Great Dorset Beach Clean is a local response to the international problem of ships continuing to dump their rubbish at sea. Tides of unsightly shipping waste, the majority of which is plastic, is then washed up onto our coast by the winter seas. Fortunately, over the years, Dorset has been blessed with a veritable army of volunteers who have been prepared to spend an hour or two of their time helping to return our coastline to its beautiful best".

Jodie McGregor, Dorset Coast Forum
"We are also urging those who use the sea for pleasure, boating, recreation and commercial activities to make an extra effort when disposing of their litter, so not to let it fall into the sea". 

The Beach Clean is truly a team effort - Purbeck District Council, West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and Borough of Poole are arranging for the collection and disposal of the rubbish collected. Dorset Countryside Ranger Service and the National Trust are providing assistance at a number of beaches. Viridor Waste Management is kindly donating litter pickers, Travis Perkins is donating rubble sacks and Symphony Environmental Ltd has supplied discounted biodegradable bags for the day's litter collection. 

For further information visit www.durlston.co.uk or telephone 01929 424443

• For interviews and information regarding West Dorset and Weymouth & Portland contact John Hayes, Dorset Countryside Ranger on 01305 756790 or 07967 504715.
• For interviews and information regarding East Dorset contact Ali Tuckey, Durlston Country Park Ranger on 01929 424443
• This year the Great Dorset Beach Clean has been organised by the Dorset Coast Forum (www.dorsetcoast.com) and Dorset Countryside Rangers as the event plays a vital role in protecting and improving Dorset's beaches and marine environment.