MEMBERS of the South Hams Society spent the morning cleaning the beach at Gara Rock last Saturday.

Despite being in the teeth of a gale, four stalwarts turned out to coincide with low water to give the beach a good clean.

The group found a large number of microbeads - manufactured solid plastic particles used in exfoliating personal care products and toothpastes, among other uses. Microbeads pose an environmental hazard for aquatic animals in freshwater and ocean water, and as a result the UK government is introducing a ban on all microbeads in cosmetics by the end of 2017.

The society’s next beach clean will be on Saturday, March 25 at Soar Mill Cove - meeting at 10am in the car park behind the hotel.

A spokesperson for the society said: ‘This little beach is especially popular with family parties. The hotel is usually most generous in offering us a cream tea - although when 20 or more people turn up for this popular event, it is not always fair to invade the hotel.’

For more information visit www.southhamssociety.org.