MORE than 20 bin bags of rubbish were collected from Sandbanks Beach in just two hours, it has been revealed.

A group of volunteers, organised by Borough of Poole’s beach team, took part in the festive beach clean event last week.

Items removed from Poole’s award-winning Blue Flag beach were mostly discarded crisp packets, sweet wrappers, cans and bottles.

Cllr Judy Butt, cabinet portfolio holder for public engagement and participation, said: “Poole is such a beautiful place to live in and visit. Our golden beaches are very special places so it’s great to see local people taking time out of their busy schedules to help look after them.

“I cannot thank them enough for volunteering to help, they are true community champions in action.”

Earlier this year Sandbanks Beach retained its Blue Flag status. In 2012, marking the fact it was, at that time, the only UK beach to win Blue Flag status annually for quarter-of-a-century, Sandbanks was honoured with a specially-commission plaque.

Cllr Butt stressed: “Our beaches are open to everyone, but it is important that we all do our bit to keep our beaches clean and help maintain the Blue Flag status which we all worked so hard to achieve.

“Thanks to our selfless volunteers we are able to maintain this very high standard.”

The Sandbanks Beach litter-pick took place last Wednesday.

Afterwards the rubbish was sorted into recycling and non-recyclable waste before being taken away.

See boroughofpoole.com/events for information on future community litter-pick events organised by Borough of Poole.