Army of volunteers help clean up beaches

Volunteers armed themselves with gloves and black bags to pick up litter along two of Falmouth's beaches this afternoon.

About 100 people turned out for the SAS Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project, organised by the Barefoot Wine company and Cornish charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS).

The project, which is fronted by television presenter Ben Fogle, is running throughout spring and summer at beaches around the UK.

Today an army of volunteers helped to clean up the Falmouth's Swanpool and Gyllyngvase beaches. As they picked up litter from Gyllyngvase, behind them the clean up was also continuing in the wreckage of Falmouth Beach Hotel.

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And with this recent tragedy still fresh in people's memory, Falmouth's community spirit was clear to see. Dom Ferris, campaigns officer for SAS, said a real mix of people had turned up, from young families to students.

"We've done a number of beach cleans here over the last few years with Falmouth and Exeter Universities, one of the things that's really noticeable here is the community feel, how proud people are of their beaches in Falmouth, and also how connected the students are with their beaches."

Ali Feest, the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue brand ambassador, said he was delighted with the turnout today.

"It's about celebrating the community, bringing the community together, and keeping beaches barefoot friendly," he said.

Among those picking up litter today were Amy Beal, Annie Cunningham-Jones and Hannah Knight, all first year Geography students from the University of Exeter Cornwall Campus.

"We use the beach quite a lot so we thought it would be a nice thing to come and help clean it up," they said.

The next SAS Barefoot beach clean will take place tomorrow at Porthtowan from 2pm to 5pm. Volunteers should meet in front of the Blue Bar. And on Saturday May 12 the Barefoot SAS team will be at Perranporth, again from 2pm – 5pm. Volunteers should meet in front of the main car park.

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