Beach Buddies had another great turnout when 29 people joined Sunday’s “Big Team Beach Clean” at Perwick Bay, with many of the volunteers from the nearby area taking part in beach cleaning for the first time.

The event was most notable for the assistance of the crew from Port St Mary Lifeboat who arrived at Perwick Bay and loaded more than 30 bags of rubbish and dozens of large items, taking them back to Port St Mary harbour for disposal and/or recycling. It's the first time a lifeboat has assisted Beach Buddies in its six years' existence.

Beach Buddies founder Bill Dale said, “Many thanks are due to the lifeboat crew for their invaluable help - otherwise it would have been a really difficult job removing the bags from the beach up the very steep, muddy track.”

In six weeks of running “Big Team” events, volunteers have collected more than 250 bags of rubbish from beaches across the Island.

Bill Dale added, “The campaign has made a significant impact, and, based on the success so far and the response from more than 100 new volunteers, we will definitely continue to run such events on a regular basis for the long term future.”

Next week Beach Buddies is linking up with Peel Commissioners to clean the main beach at Peel and Fenella Beach, across the harbour.  Volunteers are asked to meet at the swingbridge at 10.30am. Sessions last around one hour.

Beach Buddies provides litterpickers, gloves and bin bags, and removes the rubbish afterwards for disposal and / or recycling.

Bill Dale added, “This will probably be the final ‘Big Team Beach Clean’ before Christmas, but we are hoping to hold another - probably  on the north west coast - during the break between Christmas and New Year, where volunteers can blow away the festive cobwebs and get some fresh air.”

Updates will be available on the “Beach Buddies Isle of Man” Facebook pages, or via e-mail:  beachbuddies@manx.net.