BEACHES on the region’s coastline will be receiving a thorough clean-up this weekend.

Events are being held at Blast Beach near Seaham on Friday, at Hawthorn Hythe, near Hawthorn Dene on Saturday, at Easington Beach on Sunday and at Horden Beach on Monday.

It is part of the Marine Conservation Society’s (MCS) Great British Beach Clean to highlight the issues of beach litter around the UK’s coastline.

National Trust ranger and Great British Beach Clean organiser Wayne Appleton said: “The tide of litter washing up on our shores is not just unpleasant to look at, it can harm and even kill some of our best-loved marine wildlife.

“Over 170 species including seabirds, turtles and whales have mistaken marine litter for food and actually eaten it, which in many cases has resulted in starvation, poisoning and ultimately a slow, painful death.”

All of the events, led by National Trust staff and volunteers, start at 10am, finish around 2pm.