School children were shocked by the amount of cigarette stubs they encountered during a recent beach clean - and want the litter louts to STUB it out!

It was during an organised Largs Community Council beach clean with P5 of Largs Primary that they encountered a total of 150 cigarette butts.

Environment chair Patricia Perman said that the youngsters couldn't believe the laziness shown by cigarette users - and tidied the fag ends of the beach.

She said: "There are a lot of bins along the beach but where is the sense of pride among the community.

"Children counted 150 cigarette butts.

"People have just walked straight out of Wetherspoons yet there is a bin five feet away yet these kids had to pick up these cigarette ends and put them in the bin.

"The children were asking me why were people not putting the cigarette ends in the bin?"

Mrs Perman also added her thanks to Independent councillor Iain Murdoch for helping arrange for materials and equipment for helping to pick up the litter during the recent beach clean.

She said: "A big thank you to Ian Murdoch, I had contacted Helen Miller of Streetscene at North Ayrshire Council about litter pickers and rubbish bags, but I didn't hear back. She was actually off sick.

"In desperation, I called Cllr Murdoch and he arranged for me to have litter pickers and bags on Monday evening by 7pm.

"A big thank you to him!"

Beach cleans are growing more popular in the area with new environmental groups carried out beach cleans in Millport and Skelmorlie, while Largs Rainbows, Brownies and Guides, see picture, also carried out a beach clean earlier in the summer..