VOLUNTEERS and National Trust rangers have been out in force for a spring clean at a North Cornwall beach.

National Trust rangers were joined by volunteers for a litter pick at Sandymouth Beach as part of the 2015 South West Coastal Festival, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Neptune Coastline Campaign.

More than ten bags of rubbish were collected ahead of the Easter weekend. Waste included fishing nets and rope, cans, plastic trays and general litter.

National Trust lead ranger for the area, Jeff Cherrington, said: "A big thank you to everyone who helped us out at Sandymouth and at Strangles Beach as well, which we also cleaned over the weekend. As a charity, it costs us £3,000 to look after each mile of coast each year. Collecting and disposing of beach waste is a big part of that."

The trust's 2015 Coastal Festival is a year-long series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Neptune Coastline campaign, set up in 1965 to protect the coast from the threat of development and look after it forever for the nation.

Throughout the year coastal events will be taking place at National Trust places across the South West