THE police should prosecute litter louts who continue to flout warnings to pick up their rubbish from Bournemouth beach.

That's the view of Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood who said: “If the polite message doesn't get across, people should be reminded that littering is an offence.

“We don't want to deter people from coming to our beach which is our key attraction but we must ensure it is kept clean.”

He added: “When we're deluged with visitors extra measures must be taken by the council to keep the beaches clean, like providing more bins.

“Another idea would be to have public announcements on the beach; like there are on trains, telling people to take their litter home with them. The illuminated signs on the Wessex Way could also be used to get the message across.”

So far in 2013 237 tonnes of litter have been collected from the beaches and seafront in Bournemouth, although the council says it has been no worse than in previous years.

Bournemouth seafront has 200 bins which can take 82,000 litres of rubbish. They are emptied twice a day. 

Helen Bingham from Keep Britain Tidy said: “There is a simple message to everyone who is visiting a beach this summer - the only thing you should leave behind is a footprint.

“If everyone took responsibility for their own litter our beaches would be as beautiful at the end of the day as they were at the beginning of it.

'It's not hard and it costs you nothing to put your litter in a bin or, if the bin is full, take it home with you. There is no excuse for leaving your rubbish on a beach, or anywhere else.”

Chris Saunders, Bournemouth council's seafront manager said: “We have planned messages going out on our social media networks at the weekend advising the public to dispose of the rubbish responsibly - ideally taking their litter home with them and recycling it.

“During peak season, we also have extra litter-pickers on the beach who start work at 4am to ensure our beautiful beaches are clean for the enjoyment of everyone.”