A huge quantity of rubbish was cleared from a Jurassic Coast beauty spot last week following a complaint from a member of the public.

Dorset Countryside's Coastal Ranger Team led the beach-clean last Wednesday at Chapman's Pool, a sheltered cove three miles west of Worth Matravers.  They were joined by rangers and apprentices from other parts of Dorset County Council's countryside service and members of the Jurassic Coast team.

It followed a letter from a visitor who was "dismayed to find part of the Jurassic Coast in an absolutely disgraceful state".  Weather and tidal systems mean Chapman's Pool regularly becomes a collecting point for sea-borne debris, highlighting the on-going battle against coastal rubbish pollution caused largely by shipping continuing to dispose of large amounts of rubbish at sea.

In all, the team removed approximately 60 sacks of rubbish plus associated crates and debris from the beach.  The majority of the rubbish removed was plastic and polystyrene and sea-borne in origin.  The rubbish collected was disposed of by Purbeck District Council.

Senior Ranger, John Hayes, said:

"It is a tremendous pity that shipping in the Channel continues to use our coast as their dustbin; south-westerly winds sweep this rubbish onto our shore, spoiling beautiful places like Chapman's Pool.  It really is time that shipping, and the authorities that manage them sorted this out."

Although Dorset County Council has no responsibility for clearing away coastal rubbish, the Coastal Ranger Team responded to this problem and organises other beach-cleans, often with volunteer help, as resources allow.  The next county-wide event will be the Great Dorset Beach Clean in April 2009.