An environmentalist has issued a stark warning to beachgoers in Cornwall after discovering thousands of identical plastic items washing up on the coastline.

Chloe Hurst took to TikTok to shed light on the issue, asking her followers: "They have been washing up on our local beaches recently, but what are they?" During a local beach clean-up, volunteers kept finding "little spray nozzle things," she explained.

After conducting research and consulting with other beach cleaners and scientists, Chloe discovered that these nozzles once belonged to ear, eye and nasal cleansing fluid bottles – some even containing antibiotics.

She told her followers: "It's estimated that around 1,500 shipping containers get lost to sea every year, so it's no wonder we find things like this washing up in vast quantities on our beaches." Chloe also highlighted the potential health risks associated with this litter, which can carry harmful bacteria, and lamented that "nobody is held accountable".

Displaying two full containers of the nozzles she'd collected herself, she urged: "If you find any of these please do pick them up, but make sure you are wearing gloves and dispose of them properly."

One TikTok user queried the logistics of a shipping container mishap asking: "But how does a shipping container spill its contents instead of just floating around closed then sinking?"

To which Chloe responded: "Great question! Everything has to break down at some point so either an old the container has finally broken down and released them, or the container broke during the spill, we can't say for sure!"

Admirers of Chloe's efforts are making themselves heard with one voicing: "Thank you for clearing up as these big companies won't ever be help accountable. Please, please shop local businesses."

Another praised her: "I live in the Midlands but I'm absolutely passionate about the sea/oceans. Thank you for supporting the wild life flourish, and cleaning our beaches. Thank you."

Similar problems aren't exclusive to the Connish coast, meanwhile, as a Devon-based TikTok user pointed out: "Container spills are the worst. We had adult nappies a while back in North Devon before those pink Vanish bottles."

And over in Dorset, residents aren't spared either, with another adding to the litany of environmental cries for help: "We've got an industrial amount of white paint washing up all over our Bournemouth beaches. Dogs are getting covered in it."

The Express has contacted Cornwall Council for comment.