A PIECE of plastic memorabilia in the form of one of England's most celebrated footballing talents has been found washed up at Kimmeridge beach.

Kevin Keegan was best known for his huge success as the star of the Liverpool dream team of the 70s, before going on to represent his country and being crowned European Footballer of the Year in 1978 for two years running.

And the washed-up plastic ice-lolly stick found at Purbeck proved 'Mighty Mouse' is just as recognisable today as he was then.

Wareham resident Julie Hatcher was walking along the bay when she came across the collectable item - which promoted Lyons Maid Goal lollies - barely touched by time.

"I was on the beach at Kimmeridge last Monday (JAN 11), early afternoon at about 2pm," she said. "I was really shocked by the amount of little bits of plastic. It had been quite stormy and the whole beach was just covered.

"I was looking at it and I saw this thing. I don't know why I just put it in my pocket.

"But when I got home my husband said he remembered it from an old lolly stick from when he was a kid and that's how it came up."

Her husband, Steve Trewhella, couldn't quite place the image and it wasn't until he searched for it on the internet he was able to find out more - remembering he had one as a child.

Mrs Hatcher, who runs a marine centre at the beach, said while it was a nice reminiscent moment for her and her husband - now both in their 50s - she said it was a sad reflection on the state of Britain's beaches and the issues with the biodegradability of plastic products.

"Our seas are choc-a-bloc full of plastic debris," she added. "Almost every product introduced with plastic is still here; it doesn't ever break down. It will never go away.

"This one doesn't even look worn. It's lasted 40 years in the sea. It makes you think. Imagine if they'd decided not to have wooden lolly sticks; beaches everywhere would be littered with this. It really brings it home.

"Imagine in 30 years someone might find one. When you think of it in those terms it would be quite scary.

"It might make us think a bit more about what we're doing."