PEMBROKESHIRE’S beaches, and beaches across Wales, are covered with almost twice as much litter as the UK average.

Waste found on Welsh beaches rose by 60% - to over 4,000 pieces per kilometer - between 2012 and 2013, according to the latest Beachwatch report from the Marine Conservation Society (MCS).

The figures suggest Pembrokeshire’s beaches are a “dumping ground” for waste, but there is no clear-cut answer with regards to the origins of the litter.

Last year saw the 20th annual MCS Beachwatch clean up. It took place in September at 25 beaches across Wales, including Freshwater West and St Bride’s Haven in Pembrokeshire.

Gill Bell, MCS Wales Programme Manager, said the results were “shocking”.

“After 20 years of campaigning it’s disheartening that in 2013 we saw worse litter levels in Wales than ever before,” she added.

Beachwatch volunteers record where the litter they find comes from, to help the charity campaign to stop it getting there in the first place.

As well as recognizable litter dropped by humans, sewage-related debris, fishing waste and shipping waste, the highest percentage of litter found is what the MCS calls ‘non-sourced’. These bits and bobs – mostly made from plastic - can’t really be identified and therefore cannot be traced.

MCS will be running beach cleans and surveys around the UK coast this Spring and Autumn. The charity is calling on the public to take part and make this the biggest year of beach cleans and surveys ever. The event will take place at hundreds of beaches from April 24 to April 30. You can find out more and register at www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish