BEACH cleaners had a helping hand from Scotland’s water body last week as volunteers joined together to take part in a beach clean on Barassie beach.

Scottish Water teamed up with Friends of Troon Beaches to offer a helping hand in part of the bid to tackle the issue of sanitary items found on the beach.

And the team discovered yet more sanitary items as well as plastics and wipes from the clean up.

Eleven workers from different departments across Scottish Water took part for the beach clean on Thursday, August 15, as they got an insight into the regular beach cleans.

The volunteers battled the elements and filled up 24 bags on the day as they blitzed the beach in a couple of hours.

Also discovered was a toy mobile phone and tatty old trainers.

Laura Boyce, corporate affairs officer at Scottish Water, told the Ayr Advertiser: “Today’s beach clean marks the beginning of a wider piece of work which we’ll be doing with Friends of Troon Beaches to try and tackle the issue of wipes and sanitary items making their way to local beaches.

“Beach cleans go a long way towards helping with this issue but we also need to try to prevent the problem in the first place by making sure members of the public know what they can and cannot flush down the toilet. Scottish Water’s Keep the Cycle Running Campaign encourages people to only flush the 3Ps - pee, poo and (toilet) paper - and we’re pleased to be working with Friends of Troon Beaches to get our campaign messages.

“We’re pleased to be working with Friends of Troon Beaches to get our campaign messages out there.”

Friends of Troon Beaches member Aileen Kerr said: “It’s been great having the volunteers from Scottish Water along today helping us to make a difference to our local environment.

“We’re really pleased to have the support of Scottish Water and hope that together we can make a difference. If everyone looked after the environment the world would be a much better place.”