Schoolchildren help to collect rubbish from a popular beach in southern Thailand yesterday (September 22).<br /><br />More than 200 people including youngsters and adults spent several hours sifting through the trash-strewn along Ko Sukorn island in Trang province. <br /><br />They successfully removed more than 10,000 waste items including plastic bottles, glass bottles, plastic lighters, foam packaging and other bits and pieces of rubbish including shoes and kitchen utensils. <br /><br />Island sheriff Jakkaphong Ratchanikul said that rubbish being left on the beach would affect tourism.<br /><br />He said: ''We are the only people who can solve this and we must start in our own homes. There is a campaign for every household to separate household waste and ensure it is recycled correctly. <br /><br />''It would not be impossible to eliminate all the waste in one attempt but everyone must come together to cooperate.''<br /><br />Speaking in the video, schoolgirl Chakriya Meunthongwaree, six, said: ''I came to help today and felt sad at the condition of the beach. I feel sorry for the sea animals that it affects.<br /><br />''People who come to the beach should put the rubbish in the bins correctly.''
