On average for every footstep in the sand there is also an item of waste dumped by uncaring shipping and coastal industries.

That adds up to 400,000 items around the coast of Anglesey according to the Marine Conservation Society who hosted a special workshop at Anglesey Sea Zoo last week.

They hope to identify the source of the litter by analysing the waste products as it is cleaned up.

Anglesey Sea Zoo joined in the campaign by adopting their local beach, Tan Y Foel, and volunteers helped to identify the litter.

Frankie Hobro, partner at Anglesey Sea Zoo, said they were the first private company to adopt a beach as part of the survey.

"As we collect the litter we're itemising everything that we put into the bin bags so we can categorise everything that we pick up because most of the litter is plastic," said she said.

"All the results from the UK are compiled by the Marine Conservation Society. "That gives some statistics globally of what the beach litter is made up of.

"We will do four surveys a year and the person with the clipboard ticks off the item of litter on the list.".

Gill Bell, of MCS Wales, said people who thought beach litter was not a problem should 'think again'.

She said: "The average density of UK beach litter in the Beachwatch 2007 survey was 2,054 items of litter per kilometre, an average of two items for every metre stretch of beach."

Joining the campaigners on the beach was Anglesey Council's deputy leader and environment portfolio holder Bob Parry.

"The important thing to be aware of is the problems caused by plastic bags going into the sea," said Mr Parry.

"Some fish see them as jelly fish and will try to eat them.

"The survey shows the amount of rubbish that is thrown away.

"What is important is to recycle at the end of the day and use the recycling facilities on the Island.".