A community group has purchased all the plastic rings, that were being sold at the Norfolk Coast, in a bid to save seals from injury. The group, Gorleston Community Beach Clean, bought all 255 frisbee-type rings from a shop in the seaside town and another in nearby Hemsby. Mammals have been injured along the Norfolk Coast after getting their necks stuck in discarded toys. The group has also urged the shopkeepers not to sell the frisbee style plastic rings to the customers.

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'Disheartening to see rings causing damage around seals neck'

Organiser Melanie Ruse reportedly said that it 'broke' her heart to see pictures of seals' heads stuck to through the toys. "They are so dangerous to seals and it's shocking to see the damage they do when caught round a seal's neck," Ruse was quoted by a news publication. The group has now gone beyond to save the seals from potential injury, which usually organises litter-picking events on the beach.

She also reportedly spoke to the owners of the only shop in Gorleston that sells the toys - the Yacht Shop - and they gave their consent to not sell anymore. To make sure, their product was not being used on beaches, the group purchased all of them, also from another shop owned by the same couple, at a discounted price of Euro 100 (approximately Rs. 7,900) which was reportedly funded through a grant.

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'Strictly for Inland use': Melanie Ruse

The owner of the shops, Jane Johnson, said, "We were happy to help. This means we can replace the stock with the standard solid frisbees which are not a danger to wildlife in the same way." According to a report, Ruse is donating the ring toys to community groups with learning disabilities and another which runs a circus skills course. "This is on the understanding that they are not to be given out or sold individually as we don't want them back at the beach," Ruse said, adding, "They are strictly for inland use only."

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Sale of plastic bags to attract heavy fine

As a part of its anti-Pollution measures, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has seized around 3,800 kg of plastic bags in the last 10 days and has imposed penalties worth Rs 8.1 lakh, officials said on Saturday. SMDC has been confiscating polythene bags from traders, stockists, and shopkeepers to stop the usage of such products. The civic body has also been appealing to people to discard single-use plastic in keeping with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. To spread awareness around 35,000 pamphlets and other materials have been distributed in various markets, the SDMC said.

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