Falmouth has become the third town in Cornwall to be awarded Plastic Free Coastline status by Surfers Against Sewage - only six weeks after launching its campaign.

Volunteers from Plastic Free Falmouth (PFF), an action group established in January to push for the status, and Falmouth Marine Conservation (FMC), have worked tirelessly over the past weeks to secure the coveted accolade.

Collaborating with businesses, schools and community groups across Falmouth, Penryn and the surrounding villages, PFF and FMC are determined to reduce the amount of single-use plastic that is being used.

To gain Plastic Free Coastline status, the groups had to achieve five goals set down by SAS, which included forming a steering group, getting at least 12 businesses on board who have swapped at least three items of single-use plastic for more sustainable alternatives, and promoting beach cleans.

On Monday they achieved their final goal when they won the support of Falmouth Town Council. Kirstie Edwards and Flora Rendall attended the council meeting when Kirstie told members: "We'd like you to publicly endorse us and help us spread our message and help encourage more businesses to become plastic free."

They said the campaign had brought the community together with a common desire to improve the environment. "We have got people of all ages, backgrounds and jobs taking pride in where they live," said Kirstie.

Councillors unanimously agreed to support the campaign and the council has pledged to tackle the use of single use, disposal plastics on its premises; support plastic free initiatives across the town and continue to nominate councillors to serve on PFF's strategic group.

That support and pledge was the "final tick" needed to secure Plastic Free Coastline status for the town which was confirmed by Surfers Against Sewage the next morning. It is only the third time the status has been awarded in Cornwall, with Penzance and Perranporth being the first two towns to succeed.

Thrilled with their success, the PFF team said: "We would like to thank everyone in our community for fully embracing and being passionate about this campaign locally - all the businesses, all the schools and groups, all the volunteers that have signed up as refill points and cleaned beaches.

"We would also like to thank the local press for their ongoing support along with the varied members of the town council that have given us time, advice and contacts to enable this campaign to be a success.

"It has been an honour and privilege to work as part of such a dedicated and passionate group of local individuals."

They added: "This campaign doesn’t stop here - Plastic Free Falmouth will still be actively campaigning alongside our sister Falmouth Marine Conservation, to reduce our reliance on plastic locally, sign up businesses, run beach and town cleans, do outreach work, work with the town council on events and take the plastic free campaign forward, along with the other Cornish PFF towns, to work towards a plastic free Cornwall.

"There are lots of fantastic things still to come from this community, so thank you in advance for your continued support."