A STRETCH of sands have been praised as among the cleanest in the country by a man who is taking on a 7,000 mile litter pick tour with his dog.

Wayne Dixon, who is on an epic beach cleaning journey along Britain's coastline, was impressed by the stretch between Askam and Dunnerholme when he dropped by recently.

Mr Dixon and his Northern Inuit dog, Koda, have been walking the coast of Britain since February 1, litter-picking along the way.

They started at Knott-end-on-Sea, Lancashire, and their most recent visit was to Millom and Haverigg. The pair could be on their journey for a year.

The 44-year-old, from Clitheroe, was particularly impressed by the coastline between Askam and Dunnerholme, praising the community for keeping it clean.

He said: "It was the cleanest beach I've come across.

"Too many people are accepting grot spots as part of the landscape.

"It's great to see the community doing something and taking care of their own area.

"Everybody I have met has been great with supporting me.

"In Askam in the morning a woman turned up with some water and dog food for Koda and another man turned up and did the same."

Mr Dixon is recording all the litter collected and is holding picking events at different locations, advertising them on Twitter and Facebook .

The support worker for young people is also promoting Keep Britain Tidy and the Clean for The Queen campaign, while also raising money  for the mental health charity, Mind, and the Northern Inuit Dog Rescue Society.

Norman Pascoe, of Askam, met Mr Dixon and was grateful to hear his praise of the local area.

Mr Pascoe said: "Wayne says he is spellbound with the beauty of the coast, towns and villages along the way, but very disappointed with the amount of litter he finds.

"He is amazed at the kindness of the people he has met up to now, walking with him picking up litter, bringing him out cups of tea and food for the dog.

"The kindness of strangers is astounding."

Mr Dixon is fulfilling a lifelong ambition by walking around Britain's coast in memory of his late father John, who died in 2012.

The father and son had walked sections of the British coastline together.