RUBBISH left behind by beachgoers was cleaned away by a team of volunteers who are hoping to get the message across to people to take their litter home.

Organised by Amy Bugg, the team of around nine scoured the sand at Batten Bay, clearing plastic, litter and other debris.

Around five bags were filled with litter during the beach clean, which was also used to survey the types of rubbish strewn on local shores.

"I think it is a really good way of raising awareness with the public because there are a lot of things they do not think about," said Amy who is the secretary and beach clean-up coordinator for the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) Plymouth group.

"If they leave one thing behind they do not realise the impact if everyone does it."

The 26-year-old said the beach at Mount Batten is cleaned by the group of volunteers four times a year. And details of all the litter found is sent to the MCS where the information is used to build up a picture of beach rubbish issues around the country.

Drinks bottles, small bits of plastic, takeaway wrappers and fishing nets and lines were all cleared from the beach by Amy and the team.

"It would be great if people who take things on to the beach take it away with them," said Amy who joined the local MCS group in 2003.

"It really does add to the problem."