HUNDREDS of volunteers have collected a record five tonnes of rubbish from Durham’s Heritage Coast this year.

Schools, universities, businesses, community groups and members of the public have taken part in 90 beach cleans, to help keep the coastline beautiful and safe.

Almost 2,000 bags of rubbish, mainly plastic bottles, cans and discarded or lost fishing nets, also known as ghost nets, were removed from the stretch between Seaham and Crimdon, along with car tyres and 18 shopping trollies.

It is a labour of love for Heritage Coast Officer, Louise Harrington, and she has been heartened by the response from so many volunteers.

She said: “It’s fantastic to see the enthusiasm to deal with this problem from all sorts of people, young or old, local to the area or not. Some of the rubbish has been left by visitors but most has been washed down from the rivers and it’s a challenge to keep on top of it.

“I’m very proud of all the volunteers who have given up a total of 1,650 days to help out.

“I know there are a lot of members of the public who litter pick whenever they visit the coast, too. We’re very grateful to everyone helping to keep our coastline beautiful and safe for visitors and wildlife.”

The Heritage Coast has great natural, historical and geological interest, with dramatic views along the coastline and out across the North Sea, an area rich in shallow bays and headlands with yellow Magnesian Limestone cliffs.

It encompasses some of the most dramatic coastline in the North, with a rich shoreline worthy of the highest status nature conservation designations, notably home each May to a breeding colony of Little Terns, one of Britain’s rarest sea birds.

In 2011, Durham Heritage Coast achieved European recognition and was one of only three entrants honoured with a formal ‘Special Mention’ for its work in the prestigious Landscape Award of the Council of Europe competition.

The most recent beach clean at Seaham involved members of the public and 27 Durham University students.

Organised by Adam Carruthers, environment chairman for Durham University Student Volunteering and Outreach, the students came from a number of different university faculties and from as far afield as China.

Mr Carruthers is studying maths and in his second year at Durham University.

Originally from Acton in London, he said: “Helping out in Seaham was a really enjoyable way to spend the morning. We all just about squeezed into the bus to head to the beach and, although it was chilly it was a very bright and clear day.

“We were able to clean up a lot of trash, including a surprising number of car tyres.

“We had the satisfaction of walking away from a clean beach to get fish and chips before heading back to Durham city.”

The final official Durham Heritage Coast beach clean of 2019 is today at Red Acre beach, Seaham, from 11am until 1pm.

Mulled wine and minced pies will be on offer and Santa hats or festive attire is encouraged.