WINTER storms turned Dorset beaches into rubbish dumps – but dozens of people turned out over the weekend to give them a spring clean.

Among around 50 volunteers taking part in the Marks and Spencer and Marine Conservation Society’s Big Beach Clean-up at Baiter, Poole, on Saturday were half-a-dozen staff from the Dolphin Centre store.

Poole Mayor Cllr Phil Eades turned up to offer practical support, along with Mayoress, wife Helen, and his daughter Victoria, who all helped fill bags with litter from the shoreline.

“There was lots of broken glass on the beach, which is very worrying,” said the Mayor. “It was a very worthwhile exercise and my praise to M&S and all the local residents for turning up.”

By the end of the event more than 20 bags had been crammed with an assortment of rubbish, including glass, plastic, fishing gear, rope, underwear and a baby’s dummy.

Store manager Bree Logan said: “We are absolutely delighted with the turnout for this year’s Big Beach Clean-up and would like to thank everyone who gave up their time to help tidy Baiter Park.”

Around a dozen volunteers battled the elements at Bournemouth Beach yesterday in a bid to spruce-up the seafront as part of the Great Dorset Beach Clean initiative, organised by Dorset County Council.

Kitted out in his wet weather gear, Peter Ryan, who lives at East Cliff, said he wasn’t put off by the rain.

“It’s a bit of a nuisance but there’s not much you can do about it,” he said.

Seafront ranger Alex Thorne said he was delighted with the turn out, considering the conditions.