Broken glass bottles and rusty screws are among the litter that has been left on beaches over recent weeks.

Adur and Worthing Councils said there has been an increase in the amount of rubbish left behind in public spaces this summer after short bouts of warm weather.

This has created concerns for the safety of beach users and wildlife.

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The council is now urging people to remember to take their rubbish home and recycle when possible.

A spokesman for Adur and Worthing Councils said: "Now that summer is more-or-less upon us, lots of us will be enjoying barbecues or picnics near the sea, meaning there will be more rubbish to dispose of.

"There are plenty of waste and recycling bins for you to use, but if bins are full please take your rubbish home rather than leaving bags of rubbish next to them. It’s too much of a temptation for seagulls and opportunistic foxes - leading to lots of mess.

"The team has also found rusty screws and nails left on the beach from the remnants of fires. Please do not set fire to pallets or other pieces of wood as it makes the area very dangerous for other beach users."

The council has also issued safety advice for people having barbecues on the beaches this summer.

People are advised not to light fires, not to leave litter behind and not to bring any glass items to the beach.

Beachgoers are also told not to cover up hot stones with cold ones as these will shatter when they are warm, which can cause injuries.

Hot stones on the beach from barbecues can also cause severe burns if people touch them.

To avoid these issues, Adur and Worthing Councils say that people should contain barbecues in metal trays and should raise them above the pebbles to avoid stones getting hot.

After using barbecues, people have also been advised to pour cold water over it to make sure the fire is fully out and the coals are cold.