THIS week, The Westmorland Gazette's Blitz Lakeland's Litter Campaign leaves the area's litter-strewn streets and roadsides behind and takes a trip to the beach.

Like the rest of the country, South Lakeland's shoreline needs a dedicated team of volunteers to help wage war against rubbish on our coast.

The Morecambe Bay Partnership is one group that each week grapples with the grime washed up across South Lakeland and north Lancashire, through a constant cycle of beach cleans.

Since 2003, more than 2,000 volunteers with the partnership have helped clear 14 tonnes of rubbish from South Lakeland's shoreline Helen Annan, the partnership's BeachCare officer, said that not only was the litter on the area's beaches detrimental to the environment, it could also have economic costs.

"Nothing puts visitors off the coast more than going to the beach and finding it covered with rubbish," she explained.

And although landowners are, in theory, responsible for clearing up stretches of beach, the sheer amount of rubbish washed up means that this is not always possible.

Similarly, plastic bags and balloons can also end up in the stomachs of animals such as whales and ring ties can end up around the feet and beaks of birds.

Fortunately, the partnership's beach clean volunteers are working to alleviate the problem. And sections of beach at Bolton-le-Sands and Hest Bank that have their own dedicated groups are looking decidedly free from litter.

"You do get a lot of positive feedback from beach users, some of them come up and ask if they can join in," said Ms Annan, "It is good for people to see that they can make a difference, that way you inspire groups of people to decide that they no longer want to put up with mess, and get together to tidy an area up."

For more information about BeachCare contact Helen Annan on 01539 734 888.

l Humphrey Head has now been adopted by the Marine Conservation Society, under its adopt a beach' scheme.

Volunteers are now needed to take part in cleanups at the beach seasonally. The next beach clean and survey is to take place on April 14, at 11am. Anyone who wants to take part should contact the local organiser Louise Smithson on 015395-34300.