AN ENVIRONMENTAL group will begin a new clean-up challenge tomorrow.

Gweek-based Clean Ocean Sailing will embark on their 10 Beaches in 10 Days challenge, under sail in their 112-year-old schooner Annette.

They hope to raise awareness of the level of marine plastics found on the Cornish coastline.

They will clean stretches of the Cornish coastline that are only accessible by boat, starting on the Helford River with several volunteers joining them aboard their historic vessel.

Clean Ocean Sailing was started back in 2017 by Steve Green and Monika Hertlová, who live on Annette.

Steve said: "Plastic is suffocating our oceans and it is something we can see on the Cornish coast every day.

"By taking on this challenge we hope to shine a light on how much plastic is dumped on our beaches and threatening our wildlife. This is not just a problem you see in other countries, its right on our doorstep."

They regularly hold beach cleans around the Cornish peninsula, focusing on hard-to-reach areas that are often overflowing with litter that has been dumped by the ocean tides.

They have also ventured further afield to places such as the Isles of Scilly were they have been given special permission by the Wildlife Trust to clean the protected archipelago.

Monika added: "We couldn't do voyages like this without support of local businesses such as Seaware who are helping us keep our vessel seaworthy. We are also very grateful to Seachangers and Isles of Scilly Steamship Company for supporting us on our clean up mission."

To date Clean Ocean Sailing has removed upwards of 20 tonnes of plastic from the Cornwall coast. Last year alone, with the help of dedicated volunteers, they cleaned 78 beaches and picked up over 45,500 pieces of plastic that would have otherwise ended up back in our oceans.

Anyone who would like to support their work can donate via www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/cleanoceansailing2020

You find out more about Clean Ocean Sailing and their 10 Beaches in 10 Days challenge at www.cleanoceansailing.com/