Decades-old waste exposed by coastal storms

Crisp packets dating back to the 1980s are among a mountain of waste cleared from Northumberland's beaches so far this year.

Volunteers collected 2.5 tonnes (2,500 kgs) from 31 sites, more than double the amount removed during the same period in 2023.

It is thought storms in January and February, which caused increased coastal erosion, exposed historic waste from the fishing industry, some decades old.

Volunteering and access officer Emma Wilson added: "We even had a fridge wash up on Druridge Bay."

Some of the objects cleared from the Northumberland Coast National Landscape, a coastal strip from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Amble, include large tangles of abandoned fishing netting and lobster pots.

Ms Wilson added: "We’ve had a really significant amount of marine and fishing debris.

"There's actually less visitor litter, thanks to public awareness, the current problem is more about what's washing up and what's emerging having been buried for years."

The Northumberland Coast National Landscape has a record number of volunteers, and it has put in almost 3,000 hours of work in 2024 so far - twice as many as during the same period in 2023.

More than 80 beach cleans are planned but Ms Wilson said that was just the "tip of the iceberg".

"We have spent over 650 hours maintaining the Northumberland Coast Path, we do work to support the breeding season, we carry out wildlife surveys and we manage important habitats," she said.

Volunteer Sophie Barber said being able to help was "a gift".

"It’s a dream come true to be doing such varied activities in the name of conservation and working with such friendly, helpful people," she added.

Follow BBC North East on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].