METAL detectorists have spotted 'large pieces' of aluminium being washed up around the Furness coast for the past 15 years - and now want answers.

Graeme Rushton and Chris Linton, two metal detectorists from Barrow, have raised concerns about the pieces of aluminium appearing on beaches in Aldingham and areas of the coastal road in Barrow.

Graeme said they noticed the aluminium washing up on the beaches of the coastal area 15 years ago - and it has 'gradually gotten worst.'

He said: "As detectorists, we searched the beaches for lost keys and jewellery, and then we started discovering large amounts of aluminium. 

"Before that 15 year period, we never found any of it, but 15 years ago onwards, it turned up in quite large amounts.

"This is not just on the wet sand. It is also on the shingles and the stones as well."

Graeme is hoping to start an investigation as there is a 'whole list of questions that need answering.'

"Still, to this day, we wonder where it comes from," he said.

"Therefore I'd like to find a group of detectorists to get together soon to go to beaches in Barrow and see if we can fill up as many buckets of this aluminium waste as possible and raise some awareness.

"Every single time we go we always find washed-up pieces of aluminium. 

"They are all different sizes. They can be very small to other ones that are the size of your first. Some of them resemble a nugget shape."

Graeme has raised concerns about the dangers related to aluminium.

He said: "I don't think aluminium is a particularly nice metal to have around on the beaches.

"High levels of aluminium washing up on the beaches could potentially have an environmental impact on wildlife and humans."

Chris said: "Aldingham Beach is one of the worst affected areas I've detected so far.

"I think the majority of aluminium local detectorist find is not from the same source."

Westmorland and Furness Council said it was likely they are 'probably' washed onto the shore from the sea.