MORE than twice as much litter was collected during the 2016 Great Dorset Beach Clean compared to this year's initiative, organisers have confirmed.

Some 470 fewer bin bags of trash were removed from 22 of the county's beaches, from Christchurch to Lyme Regis, during the latest beach clean that took place in April.

Project coordinator Matilda Manley said: "It is very encouraging to see that there was a lot less litter collected this year than last.

"Lots of factors can affect this including recent weather. We also have 19 two-minute beach clean stations and several community beach clean groups along the coast, so beach cleans are happening more regularly throughout the year.

"However, we hope that less litter collected this year does indicate that less litter is being dropped along the coast. Huge thanks to everyone involved."

The most common items to be removed from the county's beaches this year included plastic bottles, fishing line and cigarette butts.

More than 425 volunteers retrieved around 330 bags of litter from the beaches.

A number of the volunteers also retrieved nails from burnt wood and pallets that had been discarded on the beaches.

Project officer Charlie Wild said: "It is so easy to stop these kinds of things becoming litter on our beaches; bring a reusable bottle and refill it at one of the 60 plus RefillDorset stations; use the bins provided or take your litter home; invest in a stubby pack to take your cigarette butts off the beach and dispose of.

"Every little action adds up to make a big difference together, and it really doesn't take much time or effort to do your bit."

Litter Free Coast and Sea, the group that organised the Great Dorset Beach Clean, is part of an ongoing campaign to reduce the impacts of marine and beach litter.

It is supported by more than 500 local organisations and individuals up and down the coast.