FULL dog poo bags, nappies and needles are amongst some of the things found by a North-East man litter picking the region's beaches, and today he has revealed why he does it for free.
For the two years, Steven Lorrison has spent his free time clearing beaches along the North-East coast from litter left by locals as well as washed-up waste.
Joined by his partner Melissa Tiplady, the couple were spurred into action after watching documentaries, including the BBC's War Against Plastic.
The 40-year-old has inspired thousands to bag up litter through a Facebook group he set up with Miss Tiplady, 40, called North East Beach Clean.
It has grown to have over 3,000 members, who post pictures of their little ones helping clear the beach, their weird and wonderful finds - although often the opposite - and support each other in their efforts.
Mr Lorrison said: "We were not really expecting it to go anywhere but thought, we already walk on the beaches so we may as well pick up litter.
"We were watching a lot of documentaries and wanted to do something about it."
He and Miss Tiplady, 40, were given donations by local businesses to help them on their way as they tackle waste and the threat of plastic pollution to marine wildlife.
While formal picks were put on pause during the various Covid lockdowns, North-East residents from Northumberland to Saltburn have been going at it alone to keep beaches clean.
Litter pickers have found everything from a parsnip, a plastic toy head and a fossil to a dirty syringe.
Mr Lorrison said: "We recycle what we can but it is limited because once something has been on the beach a while, it is contaminated. Things have to be really clean to be recycled.
"It is quite frustrating doing a little pick and coming back later to find it back to square one.
"The most frustrating thing for me is dog poo. Why do people pick and bag it up to just throw the bag on the beach or in the road? This happens everywhere."
Another problem for North-East beaches is lobster pot floats, Mr Lorrison says, as they are made of polyester and break down, making them impossible to pick up.
"I have also found a crisp packet from the 80s, which just shows how long it takes for plastic to decompose," he said.
The dad has noticed more litter over the past week, since social distancing restrictions were eased, with an influx of abandoned disposable barbeques and picnic-related rubbish.
He added: "It's so hard for one organisation to do it but more are getting involved, which is excellent."
Now Mr Lorrison, who lives in South Tyneside, is hoping to work with community groups and schools to help educate the next generation about litter.
He said: "I can try and make a difference by working with schools, community groups and businesses on the impact of waste and other environmental issues.
"If children hear someone talking about waste that is a normal person, that doesn't do this as their job, it might make them think 'I can do this'.
"My daughter has been educating her friends about it too."
Mr Lorrison says litter picking also boosts his mental health as he is able to give back to the community and urges anyone who would like to get involved to join the Facebook page, where he will be organising litter picks across the region.
It comes as national campaigners have launched what they say will be the UK’s biggest ever beach clean.
Surfers Against Sewage have marked the launch of their “million mile beach clean” with a 50-metre sand drawing of a seal surrounded by plastic on Cayton Bay in Yorkshire last week.
The charity hopes to inspire 100,000 people to clean up their local beach, river, street or green spaces, to clear a million miles by the end of 2021, as part of a new “million mile clean” environmental campaign.
The initiative aims to encourage people to get out locally as lockdown eases to tackle litter and plastic waste on streets, country lanes, parks and along waterways, as well as beaches.
Campaigners hope the efforts will protect oceans, beaches and wildlife, as well as reconnecting people with their local environment to help their physical and mental well-being as the country emerges from lockdown.
Hugo Tagholm, chief executive of Surfers Against Sewage, said: “The ocean is under threat and we are running out of time to save it. We want to inspire an army of ocean activists to join the cause and put an end to plastic pollution in the UK.
“After more than a year of isolation, social distancing and reduced physical activity, the Million Mile Beach Clean reconnects communities with the environment and provides numerous benefits to mental health and physical well-being.”
He urged people to sign up for the initiative to help make a difference.
The initiative will run throughout 2021, but a first week of action will take place between May 15 and 23, and Surfers Against Sewage are calling for “clean leaders” to register to lead a clean-up event during the week
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here