Between 400 and 600 pickers descended on Ginst Point, at the most easterly end of Pendine Sands, to gather the shellfish the last couple of weekends.

Mr Hart has been contacted by local residents concerned that an environmentally sensitive area may be damaged by so many people.

"The car park is only accessible at weekends because during the week the Ministry of Defence range at Pendine is in use and the road is closed," explained Mr Hart.

"But there are many hundreds of people camping in the car park over the weekends while they can go cockling.

"Apparently they are using the sand dunes for toilets and have left an horrendous amount of rubbish and destruction behind.

"I know this beach well and it's one of the most wild and unspoilt spots in Carmarthenshire so it's very upsetting to hear of it being used in this way."

Mr Hart has been in touch with the County Council and the Environment Agency to raise the issue and spoken to the MOD which owns the car park.

"The MOD has told me that it is aware of the situation and that they are liaising with the council to improve the situation," added Mr Hart.

"I also understand that the cockle beds off Ginst are due to close shortly so this invasion should soon be over. I will be keeping a close eye on the situation and making sure that the area is returned, as much as possible, to its former self."