Bantham is one of the beaches the council will no longer clean

South Hams is aiming to save �30,000 over the next two years by pulling out of cleaning 13 privately-owned beaches.

They include beauty spots such as Bantham, Thurlestone, Challaborough and Wembury.

Tony Eden, from South Hams council, said the decision to end beach cleaning was about allocating the council's responsibilities properly.

We shall be making provision with the owners to make sure that the quality of the beaches is maintained South Hams council

He said: "It is unfair for South Hams council tax payers to pay for cleaning private beaches.

"The council will continue to clean beaches it has responsibility for."

South Hams has 12 Blue Flag beaches, awarded to those that meet high standards of quality and cleanliness, and the council says that the move will not affect standards.

A spokeswoman said: "We have one of the highest number of Blue Flags in the country and we shall be making provision with the owners to make sure that the quality of the beaches is maintained."

The move came as South West beaches were condemned in a report as the dirtiest in England.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS), which surveyed beaches around the UK last year, found a total of 51,416 items on 31 beaches in the South West.

Wildlife threat

An average of 3,955 items per kilometre were found, significantly higher than the national average of 1,609 items/km and 85% higher than in 2001.

The MCS said the rise in the density of litter found on South West beaches was "astonishing".

Alison Conway, MCS litter projects co-ordinator, said: "This shows there is still a long way to go to ensure our beaches are clean and safe places for people and wildlife.

"Litter poses a threat to dolphins, whales, turtles and seabirds by entanglement in and ingestion of plastics.

"It also spoils fish catches and affects local economies through clean-up costs and loss of tourism in affected areas."