The Marine Conservation Society, which is based in Ross, was awarded Coast Magazine's "Best Green Marine Campaign" Award for its Beachwatch project, the marine litter survey and clean-up held at beaches all around the UK.

The annual Coast Awards celebrate the people and places that represent all that is innovative, valuable and exciting around the British coastline.

MCS Beachwatch was nominated for the award by Coast magazine's readers, who responded in their hundreds, to propose the very best in a number of categories.

Nominations with the most votes were then taken before a panel of esteemed, and critical, judges.

At the awards ceremony TV presenter Michaela Strachan said:?"Marine litter is one of the most important issues affecting our world at the moment, and this year's winner impressed our judges with the sheer scale of its initiative, aimed at tackling the problem at source.

"It was felt that in the past year this campaign had a particularly powerful impact and for this they deserved a huge pat on the back."

For more information, visit http://www.mcsuk.org">www.mcsuk.org