MINEHEAD residents have been showing great community spirit this week as they helped clear sand on the seafront.

Around 30 residents were out this morning (Saturday, May 12) with shovels, buckets and wheelbarrows removing the sand that had escaped from the beach and blown up onto the seating areas and footpaths.

Residents young and old showed their passion for the town by getting stuck in and helping make the seafront look more pleasant for locals and visitors alike, as well as improving access for wheelchair users and those with buggies.

The event was organised by Minehead Events Group (MEG), although some hardy volunteers who could not make it along Saturday morning had already been out earlier in the week making a good start clearing the seating areas.

One young mum was walking past with her dog and pushing her child in a pushchair and told Cllr Karen Mills, one of the organisers, that it had 'made her day'.

"Honestly thank you so much to all the people who have been out clearing the sand, I've been able to walk along her with the pushchair without a problem for the first time in ages and it has really made my day," she said.

Cllr Andrew Hadley from MEG said: "I am really pleased we managed to get so many people out to help today.

"It shows people do respond when called upon and there is a lot of community spirit in the town. People of all ages have given up their Saturday mornings to be here and I want to thank everyone who has come out."

Cllr Hadley said that it was important the seafront was looking in good shape as the town was set to hold a series of summer events including the Summer Festival, a weekend of speed boat racing, a weekend of cycling and the return of the Observation Wheel.