ONE man and his dog on a mission to walk the coast of Britain to raise awareness of the country’s growing litter problem is currently making his way along Pembrokeshire’s shorelines.

Wayne Dixon, set off from his home in Fleetwood, Lancashire, with his beloved Northern Inuit dog Koda in February last year and has now walked a massive 1,670 miles.

His first coastal trek took him north along the Scottish coast and after returning home for Christmas he set off south, hitting Pembrokeshire in the last few weeks.

Braving fair and foul weather Wayne and Koda have been wild camping most nights, carrying 50lb of equipment and essentials, as well as enjoying the hospitality of strangers on some occasions.

Wayne’s trek has raised more than £7,000 for Mind and the Northern Inuit Rescue Society but also highlighting littering and its dangers to wildlife and the environment.

A rain and wind battered Wayne told the Western Telegraph on Monday he was “fulfilling a lifelong dream of walking the coast path of Britain”.

He added: “I’m also raising money for causes close to my heart and raising awareness of the big litter issue in the UK and in the sea. Every bit of litter I walk past I’m picking up and it seems to be inspiring people to do their bit too.

“We’re living in times of cuts, we haven’t got litter pickers anymore, we all need to step up. I’d love more people to do litter picks and create groups.”

Wayne said he has enjoyed a fantastic welcome from people in Pembrokeshire and anyone is invited to come along and join the pair as they carry on south, following a brief stop off in Milford Haven while the weather improves.

“Pembrokeshire’s been brilliant, there’s not a lot of litter on the coast path, it’s been a dream really. I have seen a lot of individuals and groups cleaning up the beaches and I saw my first two minute beach clean sign at Newgale, an idea started in Cornwall.

“There’s a lot of evidence of people doing their bit and I’ve been really supported by Keep Wales Tidy,” he added.

Wayne’s journey is being documented on his Facebook page, Wayne’s Walking – Clean Mind, Clean Streets, Clean Life and you can follow their progress on Twitter @WayneKoda