The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) said the amount of plastic found on Britain's coastline had increased by 126 per cent since its first annual Beachwatch survey in 1994.

Carrier bags, drinks bottles and even plastic-based cigarette butts contributed to the "tide" of plastic waste which made up more than half of the litter blighting our beaches.

More than 170 marine species have been recorded mistaking litter for food, and as a result starving, being poisoned or suffering fatal stomach blockages.

Michaela Bowness, marketing co-ordinator at Scarbor-ough's Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary, said: "Increasingly high levels of plastic products littering our beaches are a great concern to us as they prove to cause serious and at times fatal injury to marine wildlife.

"SEA LIFE actively works towards campaigning for the protection of marine wildlife through successful SOS campaigns. Our new SOS petition will raise awareness of the innocent victims of the marine world."