Beach Buddies will head back north this weekend and hold a beach cleaning event at the Point of Ayre.

The session will take place on Sunday morning from 10.30am.

Volunteers will be tackling a length of beach to the south west of the lighthouse stretching back towards Ballaghennie.

Organiser Bil Dale said: ’Volunteers did a great job prior to the start of the bird besting season, and this weekend’s event will conclude a programme of winter and spring activities in this area designed to provide the best possible habitat for the wide variety of seabirds which live on this coastline.

’It was very encouraging to learn a few weeks ago that the numbers of seabirds in the Ayres has doubled in the last five years, and Beach Buddies is extremely pleased to hear this very good news.’

He added: ’Every session this year has been extremely well supported, and we have attracted a good number of new volunteers, which never ceases to amaze us. We have also heard of numerous families, individuals and small groups who have "adopted" areas close to their homes, not just beaches, but also glens, footpaths and the streets!

’This is fantastic news, and we are very happy to provide equipment such as litter pickers, bin bags and gloves and to come along and remove the rubbish afterwards.’

New volunteers will be made welcome at the Point of Ayre on Sunday. The meeting point is on the northwestern coastline to the left of the lighthouse - not the car park which faces out towards Cumbria - look out for the BB big red truck and trailer.

The charity is always attracting new volunteers, as Bill explained: ’At our last session - on Mother’s Day - one family turned up for the first time because mum was asked what she would like to do on her special day, and she chose to bring the family to join Beach Buddies!

’Brilliant!’