VOLUNTEERS are being urged to support two beach clean-ups this weekend.

Project workers at North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast are appealing for help with work at Staithes and Runswick Bay.

The clean-ups are part of a major conservation initiative along the coastline between Saltburn and Scarborough, which is being funded by a £22,500 grant from the environmental body Yorventure.

Heritage Coast carried out successful clean-ups in April as part of the Marine Conservation Society's Adopt a Beach campaign and are repeating the exercise at Staithes, on Saturday, and Runswick Bay, on Sunday.

Countryside projects officer Liz Kelly said: "We provide special pickers and litter bags to collect the debris, and survey sheets so we can record what has been found along the strandline.

"This information is then passed on to the Marine Conservation Society for use in its campaign to raise awareness about marine debris issues.

"We are hoping that people who love the fabulous North Yorkshire and Cleveland coastline will spare just a few hours to support this very valuable work."

The clean-ups start at noon each day.