An environmental group is campaigning to keep the Helensburgh and Lomond area "heavenly” after officials state they cleared almost 180 waste related drain blockages.

Plastic Free Helensburgh have urged locals to stop flushing disposable wipes after Scottish Water revealed there were 178 drain blockages in the Lomond area during 2023 – 108 of which were in Helensburgh.

To help reduce the number of incidents, the group are backing Scottish Water’s ‘Nature Calls’ campaign which promotes binning disposable wipes to protect the environment.

Chair of Plastic Free Helensburgh Angela Anderson said: “With heavy flooding rainfall it is increasingly important to keep our combined drainage system as free flowing as possible.

“We are happy to support Scottish Water’s campaign and we are keen for residents of Helensburgh to remember to flush the three Ps: pee, poo, and paper.

“Sadly, we find all sorts of sewer related debris and foul wipes on our beaches.

“Helensburgh had 108 blockages last year – this costs in terms of nuisance, time, disruption and resources. Let’s keep Helensburgh heavenly.”

READ MORE: Helensburgh and Lomond flooding could be just the start

The campaign will grab residents’ attention through a variety of methods including street stencils, posters, social media adverts, and local events.

As part of ‘Nature Calls’, Scottish Water is also calling for a ban on wipes containing plastics which Plastic Free Helensburgh have supported.

Thanks to their efforts – and the work of other groups - a ban on wipes containing plastic has now been adopted by the UK Government and will be implemented.

Scottish Water’s corporate affairs manager in the west region, Georgina Reid, said: “Our wider Nature Calls campaign asks the people of Scotland to bin wipes and other bathroom items to help protect nature.

“This localised campaign activity in Helensburgh is specifically targeting known hotspots where we have spent a great deal of time, effort and resources fixing blocked sewer pipes.

“Across Scotland, we attend around 36,000 blockages a year - which Scottish Water clears at a cost of £7 million.

“Wipes and other common bathroom items simply don’t break down in our sewers, they combine with fats, oils and greases and can affect how the sewer operates.

“This can then lead to sewer flooding in communities and harm to the environment.

“It really isn’t difficult. If people could simply take the time to stop and think and bin the wipes instead of flushing, many sewer blockages and consequent bursts could be avoided.”

Scottish Water and Plastic Free Helensburgh will be promoting the ‘Nature Calls’ campaign at the Christmas Light Switch On event in Colquhoun Square between 10am and 6pm on Saturday, November 18.

The team will also be at PTA Fair at Hermitage Academy between 11am and 2pm on the same day where Scottish Water will be handing out small bathroom bins and reusable wipes.

For more information on the ‘Nature Calls’ campaign, visit www.jointhewave.scot.