Beach tidy-up group in appeal for more help

THE Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has launched an appeal for more volunteers to help tackle a litter clean-up on Cramond beach.

The MCS's Beachwatch project 2008 is running an event next Saturday, September 20, when volunteers and local residents will be involved in picking up and recording litter which is posing a risk to wildlife and the environment on a stretch of Cramond beach.

Hundreds of volunteers over the country are already involved in Beachwatch, and more than 35kg of rubbish was collected at Cramond during a June clean-up.

Anne Saunders, Scottish projects officer for the MCS, said: "Hundreds of dedicated volunteers will be taking to our shores over the weekend to record the litter that is dumped in our seas and on beaches. UK beach litter has almost doubled since we started monitoring in 1993."

Everyone is welcome and volunteers should meet at the causeway out to Cramond Island at 10am. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.