Hundreds of pieces of plastic packaging for baby plum tomatoes have mysteriously appeared on a seafront.

The Tesco-branded wrappers are littering the beach, promenade and bushes at Minster Leas on Sheppey.

The stretch of coastline is well-used by walkers, runners and visitors.

But now plastic is “everywhere” says dog walker and Minster resident Dave Kelly who found the Tomato packets yesterday.

It is understood the packaging is from an unused roll. It is not the supermarket’s current wrapping and is at least two years old.

The 69-year-old takes his and his daughter’s dogs for a stroll along the beach every day.

He said: “There are hundreds of individual wrappers littered everywhere across the beach and not just in one big heap.

“When I came across it I just thought ‘crikey there’s a lot of rubbish’ and then as I looked more carefully I saw they were all the same – Tesco plum tomatoes.

“I doubt Tesco itself knows much about it but you never know.

“My wife and I picked some up and chucked them in the bin. There were already loads of them in there.

“It is a real shame to see the beach like it and it needs to be cleaned up.”

A Tesco spokesperson said: “We are very sorry that this has happened and are investigating with our suppliers.

“Colleagues from our local store have visited the beach to remove the plastic film and dispose of it properly.”

Dave, a quality consultant, pointed to a similar situation in March last year when Tesco packaging was among rubbish washed ashore.

It is yet to be confirmed where the litter has come from but the Leas has previously suffered from waste being washed up after being dumped nearby.

Last year, KentOnline exposed the extent of illegal waste tipping further down the shoreline at Eastchurch gap.

This depositing by trucks had been happening for three years before the Environment Agency blocked access to the site last June.

It has locked shut and introduced restriction orders at the site at the end of Third Avenue.

It extended its measures for a further six months in June.