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IT'S one of the big issues of our time - and a clean up was carried out on one of Cumbria's beaches to tackle the menace of plastic.

The litter pick was performed at Seascale beach to also help raise awareness of the impact that plastics and other materials have on the environment.

The event marked the end of a week of activities in support of the international ‘beat plastic pollution’ campaign.

Sellafield Ltd environmental graduate, Calum Jack, organised the event to tie in with World Ocean day earlier this week.

He said: “The company is becoming a fully fledged decommissioning site, so clean-up is what we do.

"As individuals there are things we can do every day to help protect our environment."

Calum had got the inspiration from a recent Blue Planet II programme which highlighted the dangers of plastic packaging.

He added: “As a direct result of watching the recent Blue Planet II programme showing a whale trying to eat a plastic bucket, I have made numerous changes on a personal level to my behaviours, like refusing to buy food and products with plastic packaging.

“It really hit home and prompted me to act.

"This beach clean is an extension of what we can all do ourselves in our personal lives and sends out the right messages that people should and do care about their environment."

Apprentices, graduates and members of the environmental team from the site collected litter alongside Seascale residents.

Village councillor, David Moore, also got involved, bringing along his quad bike to help transport the litter to a nearby skip, which had been provided by Sellafield Ltd.

Mr Moore said: "It’s really impressive that Sellafield employees have arranged to clean the beach and the parish really appreciate it.

"It was great to go along and help the young apprentices and graduates who have taken time out of their day to help their local community."

Protective clothing and equipment was donated by Mitie and Arco and Neales Waste offered to dispose of the waste at no charge.

Another group of apprentices also carried out a litter-pick at North Side, Workington to fill up a recycling `polar bear’.

The polar bear was made from litter by apprentices to mark last year’s World Environment Day.

It now resides at St Patrick’s Infant School in Workington to store plastics that can be recycled all year round.