PORTISHEAD beaches are set for a major clean-up operation next month.

TV presenter and adventurer Ben Fogle is calling for volunteers to help clear litter from the main beach adjacent to Portishead’s Lake Grounds on May 6 as part of the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project.

Barefoot Wines has teamed up with environmental charity Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) to visit beaches along the British coastline and asked environmentalist Ben, as an ardent supporter of the British seaside, to be its ambassador.

He said: “I’m a huge lover of Britain’s coastline so when I was asked to be the ambassador for the Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project I jumped at the chance.

“We have such beautiful beaches here in the UK and during this campaign I’ll be asking as many people as possible to come down to our events and keep their local beach barefoot friendly.”

Volunteers are invited to meet the Barefoot team outside the open air pool at 2pm.

After collecting T-shirts and any necessary kit, volunteers will spend the afternoon collecting litter along the beach. Over 18s will then be invited to end the day with a celebratory glass of Barefoot Wine.

A second beach in the town is set for a clean-up the following weekend. On May 13 volunteers are encouraged help with the Marine Conservation Society’s Big Beach Clean Up at Redcliffe Bay. Marks and Spencer customers who register in advance will receive a �5 money off voucher. Free beach activity packs will be available to keep youngsters involved. To find out more about the Big Beach Clean Up visit www.mcsuk.org/foreverfish