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Visitors to a South Tyneside coastal village can do their bit for the environment with a new marine installation helping to keep the area clean and tidy.

The Dolphin bin, which has been installed at Whitburn Bents in Sea Lane, encourages people visiting the area to dispose of their single use plastic bottles and recyclable materials, which will be taken away for recycling.

The facility forms part of a wider recycling initiative to help reduce the amount of plastic left on beaches and coastal areas and ending up in the ocean.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, Leader of Â鶹ÊÓƵ, said: "The danger of plastic pollution to our marine and coastal environment is well documented.

"The Dolphin bin will support people to recycle on-the-go by providing a place for visitors to recycle their empty cans, glass and plastic bottles while out and about, enjoying our stunning coastal areas. It will also help to raise awareness of the detrimental impact and damage they do to the environment and the risk that these materials pose to birds, mammals and wildlife.

"It's a wonderful addition to our Whitburn coastline."

The Dolphin comes following the installation of the 'Feed the Fish' sculpture at Sandhaven last year and is the first of three smaller bins that will form part of a recycling trail along the South Tyneside coastal route. Two further Dolphin bins will be installed at Borough coastal locations in the future.

The initiative supports the Borough's Protect Our Ocean campaign which continues to highlight the importance of wider coastal education around issues such as single-use plastics and reusable materials, as well as encouraging businesses to do what they can to make their businesses greener.

In January 2022, the Council also declared an urgent need for ocean recovery with its Motion for the Ocean, pledging to make a commitment to take positive action to help enhance and restore nature and protect the coastline.

Councillor Ernest Gibson, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods and Climate Change, said: "We are doing a great deal of work in the fight against climate change, raising awareness of the need to protect our ocean and educating people about the adverse impact of plastics on our planet.

"We hope that this new recycling trail will inspire and engage visitors to the coast to support the efforts of the Council and volunteers to keep plastics off our beaches by disposing of them sensibly and responsibly."

Further information about this work is available at Protecting our coast and ocean - Â鶹ÊÓƵ