A children's illustrator, author, artist and storyteller has supported an EDP campaign to keep our region's beaches clean.

James Mayhew – who is one of 50 children's authors and illustrators to back the Authors4Oceans mission, which calls on the book trade to ditch plastic and help save the oceans – has pledged his support to the battle to keep our coast clean of litter.

The EDP's Big Coast Clean Up is calling on our readers to protect our beautiful beaches over the summer months.

It has been backed by councillors, the RSPB, the Marine Conservation Society and wildlife TV presenter and naturalist Ajay Tegala – with Mr Mayhew also supporting this essential campaign.

Of The Big Coast Clean Up campaign, Mr Mayhew said: 'We live in a beautiful part of the country, with fantastic beaches, and I support the campaign.

'I think it's essential. One of my personal messages is to reduce the use of plastic.

'It is important to be considerate when visiting the beach and I support the Authors4Oceans campaign, which is backed by lots of artists who are passionate about the natural world and preserving it for future generations.'

With the campaign urging people across Norfolk and Waveney to keep our beautiful beaches clean, a quick sweep of the popular Children's Corner beach at Lowestoft yesterday led to a sackful of rubbish being collected.

Cigarette butts, cotton buds, crisp packets, plastic and glass drinks bottles, food and sweet wrappers, empty cans of alcohol and soft drinks, plastic straws and coffee cups were among the items that had all been carelessly abandoned.

Each year the Lowestoft Summer Festival attracts thousands of people to Royal Green, Kirkley, the beach and seafront areas.

It returns on July 21-22, and will again include an attempt to break an east coast record of 1,574 sandcastles created in an hour.

Speaking on behalf of the festival, Mick Howes – who was part of yesterday's clean-up – said: 'The beach is one of the key attractions to Lowestoft, so it was nice to see this small area looking good after the litter pick.

'Waveney Norse, who clean all the beaches regularly, do a good job but it is up to the public to being vigilant and do their bit by taking their litter away with them.'

How you can get involved in The Big Coast Clean Up

Here is how you can get involved and organise your own beach clean, according to the Marine Conservation Society's website.

1. Find a beach and register to run an event there.

2. Check the tide times and try to plan for a full two hours or more of cleaning after high tide.

3. Get permission from the beach owner (often the local council) to hold your beach clean on their land.

4. Find out who is responsible for collecting rubbish on the beach, and discuss where you can leave all the rubbish you collect and you can also ask if you can borrow some equipment.

5. Do a risk assessment for your beach, with tips on how to do one the MCS website.

6. Advertise and get as many people along as possible!

If you are organising an event or are looking for people to join on an event or want help starting one, contact us at newsdesk@archant.co.uk.