The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is asking the public to pledge their support for a ban on balloon releases in their local area after volunteers found an increase of over 50% in the amount of balloon litter on UK beaches between 2015 and 2016.

During the MCS Great British Beach Clean event last September, volunteer beach cleaners found a rise in the amount of balloon related litter on UK beaches – a 53.5% increase on 2015.

The charity says it is taking its ‘Don’t Let Go’ campaign to a local level to persuade more councils to ban the release of both balloons and sky lanterns on their land. 

Among the 50 councils who have agreed on a voluntary ban on balloon and lantern releases on their land is Cornwall Council.