A single shower can release 100,000 microbeads into the ocean, MPs have warned as they call for the tiny pieces of plastic to be banned from bathroom products.

Many cosmetic companies have made a voluntary commitment to phase out the use of microbeads, found in exfoliating body scrub and toothpaste, by 2020.

But the cross-party Environmental Audit Committee wants firmer action to be taken and has called on the Government to ban the use of the plastics in products by the end of 2017.