TWO beaches in South East Cornwall are set to be cleaned up this week as part of a National Trust initiative.

A Big Beach Clean Week is being run by the trust from this Sunday and 17 beaches across the South West will be visited by volunteers aiming to clear away

litter.

The week is a feature of the 2015 South West Coastal Festival, which is being held to mark the 50th anniversary of the trust's Neptune Coastline Campaign

Nick Lawrence, from the trust, said: 'Not only do beach cleans help to improve the coastal habitat for plants and animals but they are also great fun and suitable for all the family to take part in.

'You don't need to book, just turn up!

'You'll also be doing your bit to ensure that the beaches you love and we care for are clean.' 

He added: 'As a charity, it costs us £3,000 to look after each mile of coast – that is around £1m a year just to look after the 300 miles of coastline we care for in the South West.

'We are asking our supporters to take part in our events, to join as members or to volunteer with us through beach cleans and a range of other activities.

'And do please donate and help us raise the £1m we require each year to protect each of those 300 miles of coast.'

The coastal festival is a year-long series of events celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Neptune campaign, which was set up in 1965 to protect the coast from the threat of development and to look after it for the nation.

Start times and meeting points of all the beach cleans can be found at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/">www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ swcoast  

Beach cleans will take place on Wednesday (March 18) at Lantic Bay and on Thursday (March 19) at Lansallos Beach.