By Katy Pearson

MORE than 100 volunteers helped clear almost FOUR STONE’S worth of rubbish from Southend’s Jubilee beach.

And among the items found during the clean-up operation, covering 110 metres of beach, was a bra underwire, a gum shield and a garden cane.

The Echo’s Keep Our Beaches Clean campaign, launched last month, is backing volunteers, businesses and organisations who help to keep our shore’s sparkling this summer.

Debbie Fox, Jubilee Beachwatch organiser, said: “Volunteers collected four full bags of rubbish weighing in at 23.44kgs. Well done to the Southchurch Scouts who collected 5.64kgs.”

The top five items found within the 100 metres cleared were revealed to be:

• Plastic and polystyrene pieces (small) – totalling 1,064

• Glass pieces – 610

• Cotton bud sticks – 455

• Plastic and polystyrene pieces (up to 50cms) – 404

• Plastic caps and lids – 347

Debbie added: “Many thanks to Dave Simpson, Sue Brennan and Kathleen Clark for their help during this beach clean.

“I am looking for volunteers to become team leaders. This would entail going round the various teams helping them to fill out the forms and helping to identify the different objects found. If you are interested, please let me know and I will put you on to a team.”

The next Beachwatch will take place on Sunday, June 17. Volunteers are to meet at the beach steps opposite the Castle Pub at 10am. The beach clean will last two hours.

All are welcome. For more information, go to www.mcsuk.org

• Are you organising a beach clean? We’d love to hear about it. Email katy.pearson@newsquest.co.uk