It is not only sewage that threatens marine life

The MCS says as well as harming wildlife, litter can also damage human health and property.

Last year nearly 1,400 volunteers collected rubbish from 150 beaches around the UK

In 2000 litter levels decreased by 7%, a drop for the second successive year, but it was still the third highest litter density recorded since Beachwatch began.

Beach visitors are the largest source of rubbish, but the litter also comes from fishing boats, cargo ships and items such as cotton buds flushed down the toilet.

The amount of plastic rubbish has been causing the society concern.

Nearly 10,000 small plastic items were found, many of them industrial pellets which fish and seabirds can mistake for food, putting themselves at risk of being poisoned by chemicals attached to the plastic.

Among the litter picked up in the last survey were a fridge door, a number 49 lottery ball, and a shampoo sachet dating from before the introduction of decimal coinage 30 years ago.