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Visitors to South Shields seafront this Bank Holiday weekend are being called upon to respect the environment - and each other.

Over recent weeks, Â鶹ÊÓƵ has been working hard to get its seafront area ready for families to enjoy safely over the summer season.

This has included clearing wind swept sand from footpaths and beach levelling works - in addition to the daily mechanical cleaning of the beach. The Council has also placed extra waste bins along the foreshore, including bins specifically for bottles and cans for recycling.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Area Management and Community Safety, said: "We are extremely proud of our award-winning beaches and our teams have been getting our beaches ready to welcome visitors over the Bank Holiday weekend and beyond.

"Every year, in anticipation of the summer months ahead, we clear sand which has built up over the winter months along our promenades and redistribute it along our beaches. In addition, our beaches are cleaned every morning.

"Of course, we want to make sure our foreshore is looking its very best and that it remains a clean, tidy and safe place for people to enjoy.

"With plenty more bins provided along the foreshore area, there really is no excuse for anyone to be leaving litter. We would urge visitors to use the bins provided. If a bin is full, then please take it to the next available one - or take it home.

"Help us to keep our parks, beaches and open spaces clean, with only footprints left behind on the sand please."

Residents and visitors to the area are also encouraged not to feed the seagulls while they are out and about, with any leftover food placed in the bins provided.

Dog owners are reminded that dogs are not permitted on Sandhaven, from May to September, between 8am and 6pm.

The RNLI Lifeguards also return to Sandhaven from this weekend. Visitors are urged to follow the advice of the RNLI and HM Coastguard around water and beach safety.

Councillor Gibson added: "We want people to have a great time when they visit our seafront this summer, but it is important that they stay safe. Aside from taking vital beach and water safety precautions, we must remember that right now national restrictions are also still in place and it is imperative we remain cautious and considerate.

"We ask that anyone visiting our coastline this weekend continues to follow the rules around Hands, Face, Space and Fresh Air, be sensible and maintain a safe distance from others to help protect our communities."

For further information about South Tyneside beaches and seafront area visit the Council's website at www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/38234/Beaches-and-seafront