LITTER campaigners have repeated their message urging people to pick up their rubbish if visiting Dorset’s beaches this bank holiday weekend.

Although not forecast to be a scorcher like the Easter weekend, sunny spells are expected to draw visitors to the county’s coastline.

BCP Council’s tourism team launched the Leave Only Footprints campaign last summer and, this year, it is continuing to appeal to people to look after the area’s award-winning beaches.

More than 700 volunteers took part in a county-wide litter pick recently, collecting more than 200 bags of rubbish from Dorset’s shores as part of the 30th annual Great Dorset Beach Clean.

Since summer 2018, hundreds of new bins have been installed along the seafront in Bournemouth and Poole, with a recycling option at each location.

Andrew Brown, seafront operations manager for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, said: “There’s still so much we want to do and achieve but Leave Only Footprints has become a simple, recognisable way to communicate with the millions of people that visit our beaches every year.

“We’re under no illusion that this type of environmental messaging takes years to bed in but we’re thrilled that so many businesses and locals are on board with the campaign. We look forward to new initiatives and partnerships that will edge us steadily closer to our goals.

“In the meantime, ahead of the bank holiday, we hope that people will enjoy the beaches and make a small difference by clearing up after themselves at the end of the day, using the correct bins provided – blue for recycling and black for general waste.”

The Leave Only Footprints team has collaborated with other environmentally-conscious organisations including Litter Free Coast and Sea, Keep Britain Tidy and Dorset Devils.

The campaign has since broadened its scope to put the county at the forefront of sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. Discounts are available on reusable cups and the Refill Dorset scheme operates in cafés and kiosks along the prom.

The Leave Only Footprints team has also designed and delivered activities and events aimed at local school groups and families, which encourage children to spend time outside, discovering wildlife in their local area. During the sessions the team introduces the ethos of Leave Only Footprints and the impact that litter can have, as well as what we can all do to help.