Falmouth Spring Festival's spring clean days will welcome a record number of volunteers next month as almost 150 have already signed up to take part.

They will be embarking on a range of town and ocean cleans as well as regeneration projects to revitalise forgotten areas, with an anticipated biggest ever spring beach clean planned for Saturday, March 17.

Divers from Atlantic Scuba will once again offer their services to conduct an underwater litter pick in hard to reach offshore locations. Last year, teams collected 16 sacks of mainly plastic debris as well as more unusual items such as traffic cones, a car tyre and even a fridge door.

The beach cleans, organised in partnership with Fathoms Free, will cover Gyllyngvase Beach, Castle Beach and Swanpool Beach, as well as the myriad of pathways and rocky areas in-between. This year, the timing of the low tide is expected to uncover even more plastic waste and volunteer help is still being sought by the organisers.

The spring festival is organised by Falmouth BID and sponsored by the University of Exeter. BID manager, Richard Wilcox said: "We’re delighted that so many groups, organisations and individuals have offered support. Without their assistance we as a Town Team simply couldn’t organise the year-round festivals programme. For the spring clean days, the response from the community has been incredible and that’s what this festival is all about; welcoming in the spring and giving focus to regeneration projects that further enhance our wonderful award-winning town.”

Regeneration projects will be running alongside the clean-ups. Local groups will be working on a range of sites around the town, including replanting key sub-tropical beds along the seafront, clearance projects in the town centre and the renovation of historic green spaces.

Among the volunteers groups who are already signed are: the University of Exeter, CORMAC, Falmouth Town Council, Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth Civic Society, Santander, Friends of Greenbank Gardens, 5 Degrees West, Harbour Lights, Falmouth District Hotels Association, Falmouth University, Falmouth Bay Residents Association, Fathoms Free, Atlantic Scuba as well as many local residents.

Dave Perry from Fathoms Free said: “We’re really excited to be working with Falmouth BID, businesses and the local community to collect harmful plastic waste from Falmouth’s beaches for the second year running. If you would like to join us, come to the Fathoms Free gazebo on Gyllyngvase Beach, on Saturday 17th March from 10am. All equipment will be provided."

Anyone who would like to get involved with the various volunteer projects around the town, should contact the Falmouth BID office on 01326 313553.

Falmouth Spring Festival runs from March 15 until April 2 and celebrates Falmouth’s coast and open spaces through a host of music, dance, sporting events, walks and the spring clean activities. The full festival schedule can be found at falmouth.co.uk.