FINES should be introduced to cut down on the amount of litter at a Canvey beach, a volunteer has argued.

Colin Letchford, a volunteer of Friends of Concord Beach, said that his group are facing a constant battle against rubbish that beach goers are leaving behind.

Discarded used nappies, drink bottles and wet wipes are just some of the items the voluntary group regularly comes across and ends up picking up after lazy visitors.

With the hot weather over the recent bank holiday, the problem has intensified.

Mr Letchford said: “I think the council should impose a fine.

“Maidstone Council apparently fines people £40 for dropping cigarettes on the floor.

“The borough council or the town council should employ someone to impose it.

“What is needed is a beach superintendent, like they have at Brightlingsea.

“They could patrol in a hi-vis jacket and fine people who drop rubbish, don’t pick up after their dogs and leave their cigarette butts on the floor.”

Mr Letchford has previously spent two hours vacuuming up cigarette butts that people have dumped around the beach.

He regularly fills a carrier bag every day with the butts.

“A £40 fine would work,” he said.

“If the council did employ someone to enforce it, it would pay for itself for the first few months.

“Those who don’t pick up their dog poo should have their faces rubbed in it - although I don’t think that would go down well, that one.”

Mr Letchford said that it wasn’t everyone who spoils the beach.

“I saw a group of young lads who were having a barbecue,” he said.

“I was just going to go over and ask them to make sure they took their rubbish with them when one of them asked where the rubbish bags were.

“The people in coaches also often tidy up behind themselves.

“However, there is still a lot of rubbish that gets left lying around.

“It doesn’t leave a very good impression.”

He added that as well as people taking responsibility for their rubbish there was a need for the council to ensure that the bins were emptied promptly and litter pickers did a thorough job.

Lea Swan, owner of Concord Cafe on the beach, agreed that more needed tot be done to tackle the rubbish issue.

“It is not a new problem,” she said.

“It always happens when there is sunny weather, which this year has happened during the six weeks holiday.

“I have taken photos and videos and emailed and called the council about the problem.

“They are supposed to empty the bins on the beach every two hours, but when they do that, the rest of the area gets forgotten about.”

Mr Letchford also said the group was working hard to tackle the weeds growing along both sides of the seawall so that, along with the benches being installed and murals being painted, it would be a nicer environment for people to walk.

“Last year the council used weed sprayer, but they haven’t done that yet this year,” he added. “The volunteers are having to remove them.”