MORE than 100 people helped give Cleethorpes beach a spring clean – collecting 3,195 pieces of litter in just a few hours.
Volunteers from across the borough joined staff from Marks & Spencer, in Grimsby's Freshney Place shopping centre, on Saturday for the second annual litter pick.
The clean-up was part of the company's mission to tidy 110 beaches and 50 waterways nationwide in association with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).
Grimsby store manager Val Hardy said: "We are delighted with the turn-out. We had about 70 people last year and this year we've topped 100, which is fantastic.
"As well as collecting rubbish, the event is to educate people about protecting sea-life and beaches for future generations.
"We're asking everybody to keep a log of the rubbish they pick up so that the MCS can use the information for their research."
The intrepid litter pickers collected 630kg kilograms of rubbish this year, compared to 270kg last year.
They spent three hours on the section of beach from the Boating Lake to the car park at the rear of Pleasure Island.
Staff from North East Lincolnshire Council's beach safety team donated litter grabbers to help make the task less arduous.
Among those taking part were electrician Simon Myers, 39, of Cleethorpes, and his daughter Katie, 7.
He said: "We wanted to come along and help tidy up the area. It might be a bit windy but it's still a nice day to be on the beach.
"I think it's important we all do our bit to help."
Katie, who attends Signhills Academy, added: "I'm going to try and collect more rubbish than my dad."
Jo Martin, 47, of Grimsby, who works as a sales assistant at M&S, added: "It's brilliant to see so many people turn out to help us. There are lots of plastic bags and glass on the beach so we'll be making sure we pick all of it up."
Everyone who took part was given a £5 M&S food voucher, while back in the store, there was a fish hunt, quiz and colouring competition for families.
