THE first Garelochhead beach clean of 2019 proved a resounding success as around 50 volunteers helped clear almost 90 bin bags of rubbish from the village foreshore.

Garelochhead Community Council have arranged a monthly clean-up from now until October on the third Sunday of each month and if the first of the season, on Sunday, February 24, is anything to go by then it is sure to make a huge difference.

Community councillor Gemma Kimmett said organisers were delighted with the progress made and were pleasantly surprised with the turnout of keen residents, including 15 or so phenomenally motivated children.

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She said: “The sun was shining and we had an amazing turnout, without whom none of this would be possible.

“We removed around 90 bin bags alongside some large items. Many parts of an old boat, couch cushions, garden toys, three hard hats, many bits of yellow scaffolding safety items and very sadly some syringes, not to mention the billions of plastic fragments mixed up through the seaweed and high tide line.

“Bags and pickers where provided and all litter was removed with the ongoing support of Craig Callaghan at Argyll and Bute Council, who has been a great help in all local clean-ups and needs a mention for his great work.

“Our aim is not only to get Garelochhead beach, but as much of the Garelochhead Community Council area beaches, back to somewhere we can be proud of and want to use again, somewhere people want to come to use for leisure and water sports and to see the beauty we have, but mainly somewhere wildlife can live safely.”

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Garelochhead resident Chrissie Campbell added: “It was a fantastic day, a lot more turned up than the last one which was amazing and the kids had a blast.

“It was a job well done by everyone.”

The next community clean-up event will take place on Sunday, March 17, while the Garelochhead group will be joining forces with Surfers Against Sewage again this year for their annual big spring clean – between April 4 and 16 - and autumn beach clean.