YOUNG West Devon surfers gave up their Saturday to clear 52 bags of rubbish from a Cornish beach last weekend.

The Tavistock College Surf Academy, organised by teacher Pete Keegan and learning mentor Dan Kinsman, joined with staff, members of the public and other students to clean up Tregantle Beach on the south Cornish coast.

Mr Keegan said: 'Whitsand Bay is a beautiful spot which suffers from a terrible litter problem. Beach users leave rubbish and the tide dumps marine debris on the rocks.

'Many thanks to all the students, staff and members of the community who helped clean up the beach. More than 50 people removed 52 bin bags packed with rubbish from the small stretch of coast so we made a real difference.'

Jasmine Hughes, the 18-year-old secretary of Tavistock College Surf Academy, said it was one of the worst littered beaches she had seen, including a lot of plastic rubbish. 

Academy member Ellyn Megicks, 18, said: 'It's quite appalling how much rubbish there is. If we show people, they'll know not to chuck it around and how much it is harming the environment.'

Those taking part were shocked by the waste they collected— and the fact sewage appeared to be washed up.

Helpers carried a large metal canister and pieces of glass off the beach, before all the bags were loaded onto the roof of a van and taken away for safe disposal.

Beni Evans, 16, said: 'Doing this helps wildlife because a lot of animals suffer from ingesting plastic. It's good to keep the countryside and the seaside clean.'

Teachers Sally Bartlett and Pauline Monk provided food for the hungry volunteers who tucked in before making the most of the sun and driving to Seaton for a surf session.

The students will now present assemblies to their peers to raise awareness of coastal pollution and the action they took to combat it.