Highest ever amount of rubbish on Brighton beach as city faces 'daily tidal wave' of tourists

The highest ever amount of rubbish has been collected from Brighton beach in one day, according to the city council.

11 tonnes of rubbish was collected on Thursday with the average at this time of year around three tonnes. Brighton and Hove Council says the city is having to cope with a "daily tidal wave" of tourists with beach cleaning staff "stretched to the limit".

Along the coast in Bournemouth it is estimated up to 50 tonnes of litter was collected on Friday morning, the day after a major incident was declared by emergency services due to anti-social behaviour and huge numbers of visitors.

In Brighton, enforcement officers are patrolling the beach an extra hour a day, until 8pm, and handing out £150 on the spot fines.

Meanwhile, police in Whitstable in Kent have issued a dispersal order for this weekend following reports of large groups gathering on the beaches during the evenings.

Kent Police says anti-social behaviour, nuisance vehicles, and fireworks being set off have been reported in recent days and there was a disturbance in Harbour Street.

The dispersal order is in place until Sunday afternoon and means anyone found causing or likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress can be made to leave the area. It covers most of the town, including Harbour Street, Old Bridge Road, Cromwell Road, the seafront, the harbour and Tankerton Slopes.

On Saturday morning, Whitstable resident, Alex Hughes, posted pictures on Twitter showing empty bottles and gas nitrous oxide canisters left behind.