Tourists are swamping the South Coast's beaches with a record level of litter, according to a survey.

Beach users left behind twice as much rubbish during the latest study as they did two years ago.

They were also responsible for more debris than commercial ships, sewage outlets and fishermen.

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) recorded the highest density of coastal rubbish since its first Beachwatch survey 11 years ago.

Its findings showed litter density had risen by 29 per cent compared with 2002 results and by 99 per cent compared with Beachwatch 1994.

Rubbish from beach visitors, fishing debris and plastic litter were at a record high and sewage-related debris had increased for the first time in five years.

The MCS said the levels indicated existing legislation was having little or no effect on reducing beach litter and that public attitudes had to change.

More than 2,500 volunteers helped to clean and survey 135km of UK coastline on 244 beaches on September 21 and 22 last year.

In the South-East, the amount of litter was double that of 2002.

Visitors were blamed for 61 per cent of the rubbish recovered from Brighton beach, 50 per cent of debris on East Sussex beaches and 29 per cent in West Sussex.

The amount of sewage and medical-related debris found on Sussex beaches was negligible.

Andrea Crump, MCS litter projects co-ordinator, said: "Tourists will choose a beach because of its beautiful scenery, then spoil the beach for other users by leaving their rubbish behind.

"Every single piece of rubbish has an owner and every single person can make a difference by making sure they take their rubbish with them."

Tourists, however, said Brighton beach looked clean compared with other coastal resorts.

Milene Goutaing, 35, from Normandy, said: "This is the first time I have been to Brighton but the beach looks very clean to me. I can't see litter anywhere, in fact."

Mike Wheeler, 47, from Clapham, London, said: "When I used to come here ten years ago the beach was filthy, especially towards the end of the day but it is much cleaner these days."

Brighton student Kate McCluskey, 29, of the Old Steine, said: "Last Friday evening it was quite bad because it was sunny and was packed after work with loads of people bringing beers down.

"I saw it later on that night and it looked awful. People should pick up their own litter."

MCS spokesman Richard Harrington said the Government should make sure legislation to control littering was working properly.

He said: "All of this litter is produced by individuals and everybody needs to pull together to improve the situation.

"For human health purposes it is great news that sewage-related debris is down in the South-East.

"But it is the materials hazardous to wildlife - plastic bags and plastic pellets - that cause problems for a large number of animals."

Nationally, the amount of plastic litter reached a record high, accounting for more than half of all rubbish.

The society urged the Government to introduce a plastic bag tax, similar to a successful scheme in Ireland, after volunteers discovered 43 plastic bags for every kilometre of beach surveyed.