The first ever Big Team Beach Clean organised by Beach Buddies has been a record breaker, with more rubbish collected in one session than ever before.

A total of 35 volunteers joined the Beach Buddies Big Team Clean Up at Ballaugh Cronk on the afternoon of Sunday 21st October and, for the first time in living memory, the beach was left spotlessly clean.

Although the number of bags collected - 58 - was slightly fewer than the previous record, the amount of additional rubbish collected far exceeded the previous record set at Gansey Beach in August by PokerStars staff.

Dozens of oil and chemical barrels, large amounts of fishing rope, fish boxes, pieces of metal and a huge industrial plastic container were collected alongside the 58 bags full to the brim mostly with plastic material, including thousands of plastic bottles.

“It was an absolutely fantastic achievement,” said Beach?Buddies founder Bill Dale. “I had surveyed the beach a few days ago and I knew it needed a big team, but even with 35 volunteers I honestly didn’t think we would be able to completely clean the beach. It was a daunting task.

“But the volunteers - many taking part in a beach clean for the first time - were just fantastic and after just over an hour the entire beach at Ballaugh was left spotless. That has never been done before, and local Ballaugh people who joined us said it’s the first time in living memory that this has happened.

“I cannot thank the volunteers enough for their efforts. There were also some young children and families amongst the group, which is great for the future, and they seemed to really enjoy themselves. 

There was a real mixture of people of all ages and from all backgrounds. It shows that the problem of beach pollution really matters to the public.

“Everyone was able to walk away with a tremendous sense of satisfaction and achievement.”

The second Beach Buddies Big Team Clean Up is this coming Sunday, October 28th, at Castletown Beach  - another area identified by Beach Buddies as having a massive problem. Volunteers should meet at the car park opposite the runway, close to the golf course at 10.30am.

Further information can be found on the Beach Buddies new Facebook page or by e-mail at beachbuddies@manx.net.

Photo caption - Volunteers at Ballaugh Cronk beach.