ARTIST Maria Jose Arceo wants to work with local people to clean up Southend's beaches and create artwork with what she finds.

The Spanish-born artist is coming to Southend this month as the art group Metal's artist in residence.

She will hold a series of beachcombing sessions where volunteers are welcome to join her in collecting plastic from the foreshores.

"I'm interested in the human footprint in water. When I started out I was interested in finding archaeological artefacts like ceramics. Then I found a piece of leather which I discovered was Tudor. I did not think leather could be preserved for that long in water. Then it made me think of plastic and how long that would be around for."

Maria, who is based in London, began her ongoing art project in 2008. She collects discarded plastic then colour-codes the objects and transforms them into beautiful, multi-coloured installations.

It has seen her mudlark to collect plastic from along the banks of the Thames in Richmond, Chiswick, Hammersmith, Chelsea Bridge, Wandsworth up to the Thames Barrier as well as various coastal areas.

"It can be dirty work. I found condoms, syringes, Tampax, bottles with pills still in them, five car batteries thrown over a wall. Some beaches can look cleaner than along the river in London but after two hours I find I have collected two, four, six sacks. It's just because it is spread over a bigger area.

Maria and the volunteers have also had some unexpected discoveries.

"We found a machine gun in Hammersmith! I handed over to the police. It was rusty so I don't know how long it was there but they will probably need to test it and fire it. I will call back in a couple of months to find out what happened to it. It's intriguing.

"Also a motorbike, kettle, electrical cables, people throw things into the river and treat it a like a drain like it will 'take it away' but there is no 'away'. There is nowhere on earth that is not touch by this."

She is specifically interested in the damage that plastic has once it enters rivers and the sea.

"When plastic hits the water it is like a toxic pill. When it hits the bottom of the river it is not going anywhere, it needs heat of light to degrade so it's there forever," says Maria.

"Rubbish that ends up on the street makes it's way to the river and then to the sea. People need to dispose of plastic responsibly."

Maria has limited her use of plastic in her life.

She says: "Plastic has a value and it lasts a long time but should not be used for things that are throw away. I use the same bags over and over again and buy fruit and vegetables without the plastic.

"I am so used to spotting plastic now that I can see it in the corner of my eye even when driving!"

Visit www.mariaarceo.com and www.metalculture.com for further details.

Clean up at Jubilee Beach, 18 April, 10am to 12.30pm. Meet at the foreshore in front of the Castle Pub, 92 Eastern Esplanade, Southend SS1 2YP.

Clean up at Shoeburyness 20 April 11am to 1pm at the esplanade following the end of George Street meeting Rampart Terrace, Southend, SS3 9AE.

Clean up at Jubilee Beach 21 April at 12.30pm to 3.30pm at the pier in front of the Thorpe Bay Yacht Club Boat Yard, 115 Thorpe Bay Gardens, Southend SS1 3NW.

Workshop at Metal: Plastic Exploration 22 April from 10am to 4pm at Metal Culture, Chalkwell Hall, SS0 8NB.

Workshop at Metal: Plastic Exploration 23 April at 10am to 2pm at Metal Culture, Chalkwell Hall, SS0 8NB.