Litter on British beaches

Discarded plastic on Branscombe beach: a Marine Conservation Society (MCS) report has found that litter levels have more than doubled in the last 15 years Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images Europe

Workers attempt to clear up the rubbish left on Brighton sea front following the 'Big Beach Boutique' Fatboy Slim concert Photograph: James Boardman/Rex Features

The MCS aims to cut beach litter, such as the rubbish pictured here on Chesil beach in Dorset, by 50% by 2015 Photograph: Rex Features

The most common items found were plastic and polystyrene pieces, plastic ropes, plastic lids and crisp and sweet wrappers. Even household goods were found. Pictured here is a discarded TV on Huisinis beach Photograph: Murdo Macleod

The average density of UK beach litter in the MCS survey was 2,195 items per km, up from 1,045 items per km found during the first Beachwatch survey in 1994. Pictured is a rusty tin found on a beach in Dover Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

Items like this broken bottle found on a beach in south Kent, endanger marine wildlife such as seals, seabirds and turtles Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PA

A tyre is washed up on a stony beach in Prestwick, Scotland Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty

The MCS looked at conditions on 374 popular UK coastal spots and discovered a range of rubbish items, like broken electrical equipment found on this beach in Prestwick, Scotland Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty

The society has launched an online petition calling on ministers to set up an effective plan to tackle the problem. More rubbish pictured on Prestwick beach, Scotland Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty

In England, the average level of litter increased by almost a tenth on 2007. Discarded food packaging blights the Southend-on-Sea shoreline Photograph: Brian Harris/Rex Features