Beach visitors accounted for the majority of litter

The Beachwatch 2004 survey, which took place in September of last year, monitored 46 Scottish beaches.

On average, 1,505 items were found per kilometre - less than the UK average.

But figures for sewage-related debris, such as cotton buds, tampons and condoms, show Scotland's beaches have more than double the national average.

On one beach on the Clyde, more than 10,000 cotton bud sticks were found.

The Saltings to Bowling stretch accounted for 65% of all the sewage-related debris recorded on Scotland's beaches.

The figures come from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) which conducted a UK-wide survey of 250 beaches using 3,000 volunteers.

This survey demonstrates the need for a plastic bag levy Mike Pringle Lib Dem MSP

In Scotland, 700 volunteers cleaned up almost 42km of coastline.

Almost 64,000 items of litter were found - fewer per kilometre than the previous year but much more than 2002.

The main source of litter (33.4%) was from beach visitors. This was followed by sewage-related debris (26.1%), fishing debris (9.9%) and shipping (2.3%).

The society maintains that litter on beaches is totally preventable.

It urged all members of the public to "bag and bin" all sewage-related debris instead of flushing it down the toilet.

'Reducing litter'

Mike Pringle, Liberal Democrat MSP, repeated his call for a plastic bag tax in Scotland following the survey.

He has put forward a member's bill at the Scottish Parliament after the MCS said 60% of all litter on Scotland's beaches was plastic.

Mr Pringle, who represents the Edinburgh South ward, said: "This survey demonstrates the need for a plastic bag levy. We need to encourage people to not throw litter and to value resources like plastic.

"Plastic bags pollute our beaches and are a danger to many sea life mammals. My proposal for a plastic bag levy is about cutting the number of plastic bags used unnecessarily. It is an important way of reducing litter on our beaches."