AKIPRESS.COM - Almost one million shoes and over 370,000 toothbrushes -- they're among the 414 million pieces of plastic found washed ashore on the remote Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the Indian Ocean, according to new research.

The study, which was published in the journal Scientific Reports Thursday, found that the Australian territory was littered with 238 tonnes of plastic, despite being home to around 500 people.

The group of mostly uninhabited 27 islands -- which are 2,750 km (1,708 miles) from Perth -- are marketed to tourists as "Australia's last unspoilt paradise."

Much of the rubbish was single-use consumer items such as bottle caps, straws, shoes and sandals, University of Tasmania marine eco-toxicologist Jennifer Lavers, who led the study, said.