A team of 15 volunteers helped to clean the beach at Aust Cliff last weekend.

Councillors and residents helped clear the beach of litter next to the old Severn Bridge on Sunday, September 16.

Local Conservatives in Bristol and South Gloucestershire organised the beach clean, part of a wider event to tidy beaches across the South West.

The group included South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage and South West Conservatives deputy chair Anita Heappey.

Organiser Sanjay Shambhu, chairman of Charlton and Cribbs Conservatives, said: “As a team we have achieved a lot, with valued contributions from members of the public towards our commitment to the local community and environment.

"We got rid of seven bags of plastics and other litter. Many thanks to everyone who contributed.”

Peter Booth, chairman of South West Conservatives, said: “The Big Beach Clean was a huge success, with lots of volunteers coming together to lead or join a host of events across the region.

“The response was fantastic and I would like to thank everyone who took part.

“The sheer amount of rubbish collected at the weekend offers a stark reminder of the scale of the problem and why we need to keep working hard to reduce and eliminate litter around our beautiful coastline.”

Ahead of the event environment Secretary Michael Gove said: “The South West has some of the most beautiful beaches anywhere and it’s vital we protect them for future generations and ensure our great coastline and wildlife are not damaged by plastic waste and other litter."