Keep your butts off Mayo beach

'KEEP your butts off our beach'.

That's the message to smokers who are visiting Old Head beach in west Mayo.

Help is at hand to deal with cigarette butts thanks to the efforts of the Keep Our Beaches Clean group.

They have installed new cigarette bins on Old Head beach, and visitors are urged to use the bins to discard of butts in a proper manner.

Promoting the welcome initiative on their social media, the group extended thanks for the Clean Coasts grant which enabled them to purchase the bins.

They explained: “Cigarette butts were a huge issue for our volunteers. Their backs were broke picking them up daily, not to mention the harm it causes our marine life.

“We ask that you use the bins and please, cigarettes only. The bins will remain in place as long as they are respected.”

In a separate post on littering in general, including cigarette butts, dog poop bags, pieces of plastic and abandoned or forgotten toys, the group suggested it is time to 'start pushing for a litter warden on the beach, at least during the summer months'.