RESIDENTS are being urged to help keep beaches clean and tidy.

Hartlepool Borough Council officials want public support on two fronts - by disposing of all litter when visiting beaches and by careful disposal of personal sanitary products in the home.

Helen Beaman, the council's environment co-ordinator, said litter was widely recognised as a problem, but the issue of thoughtlessly discarded personal products failed to gain as much attention.

"An estimated two billion sanitary protection items are flushed down toilets each year," she said.

"Sewers are not designed for this sort of waste and, despite the efforts of the water industry to remove it from the system, some still escapes and ends up on beaches and riverbanks.

"Disposable products are an everyday part of life, but you should never flush them down the toilet. I would urge people to a follow a simple disposal code - bag them and bin them."

The appeal coincides with Spring Clean Hartlepool, an annual initiative by the council to encourage people to do their bit to look after and improve the local environment. The scheme runs until the end of the month.

Mrs Beaman said: "We are fast approaching the summer when, hopefully, we will all find ourselves heading for the beach to take advantage of some lovely weather. Many of us will take picnics, and it is important that all rubbish is disposed of sensibly.

"You should always look for a litter bin, but if one isn't at hand, take your rubbish home and put it in the bin there."

Further information is available on (01429) 284172.