GHOST netting is posing an increasing danger to wildlife in the Whitsand Bay and Looe area, says a local volunteer group.

The Looe Marine Conservation Group was at Downderry where rope, fishing line, plastic bottles and bags were cleaned up off the beach by around 20 volunteers.

Fisherman Phil Pryor helped by driving his truck onto the beach to take the rubbish away. The group was joined by Mal Moss, of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue Group, and Claire Wallerstein, of Rame Peninsula Beach Care.

Group chairman Gill Bridges said: 'We focus mainly on the Looe Voluntary Marine Conservation Area, but Seaton and Downderry frequently suffer with greater volumes of marine debris, ghost netting and litter due to prevailing wind and tidal currents. The amount of fishing nets lost at sea which entangle wildlife is becoming an increasing problem.'

A dolphin discovered at Portwrinkle this month was the third animal in a short period to have washed up dead on South East Cornwall beaches. The animals were thought to have died after becoming entangled in netting.