SCORES of volunteer beach cleaners have spruced up the sands of Tenby as the resort's bid to become a plastic-free town gathers momentum.

Enthusiasm for the nationwide Big Spring Beach Clean saw 124 people take to the Harbour, North and South beaches yesterday (Saturday).

They collected 32 bags of rubbish and five full bags of plastics in just a few hours.

Meanwhile, a cliff clean-up above the South beach was carried out by Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team, with the assistance of crew from Tenby Fire Station.

Volunteers included a large contingent from Valero and members of local organisations including the sea cadets, RNLI beach lifeguards, Tenby Aces and the sailing club.

They were rewarded with cakes from Caffe Pura, hot drink refills from the Beach Box and chips from Fecci's, while St Catherine's Island offered free entry to everyone taking part.

Tenby town councillor Laurence Blackhall, is a member of the Plastic Free Tenby steering group, which is about to complete its application for a plastic-free town and will be electing officers on Wednesday.

He said: "The cause has really captured collective consciousness. There is huge community support for the cause from local people and businesses, a number of whom have made positive changes. And we must not forget the early-morning walkers who daily pick up rubbish from our beaches."

Surfers Against Sewage local representative Anna Strzelecki has seen a huge increase in volunteer beach cleaners this year. Clean-ups she has been recently involved in at Monkstone and Amroth, as well the South beach on Saturday, have resulted in a total of six tonnes of plastic and eight tonnes of other rubbish and have involved 390 volunteers.

She said: The increase in volunteers is amazing. The only thing is the amount of plastic and rubbish in general just seems to grow.

"Beach cleans are tackling the collection of existing rubbish, but the changes need to be much more than this.

"I want to see a total ban of disposable plastics or avoidable plastics. Single-use plastic is not necessary if everyone used reusable bags, cups, cutlery, straws, bottles, refused plastic-wrapped products in supermarkets and designers/manufacturers need to be a lot more responsible with the materials they use.

"We can all do a little to help by boycotting single-used plastics, and it will make a difference."