Beaches and parks packed with people – and litter – as thousands defy lockdown to enjoy hottest day of the year

Thousands defied lockdown warnings and flocked to beaches and parks amid another day of blistering temperatures on Thursday — but in many areas the enjoyment was spoiled by disorder or piles of litter.

Heaps of rubbish were visible strewn across Britain’s public spaces after sunseekers flocked to beauty spots on Wednesday.

Litter pickers were out bright and early to tackle the chaos left behind after crowds headed out to enjoy the 32C sunshine.

Piles of rubbish, including empty beer bottles, tents, disposable barbecues and laughing gas canisters, were pictured dumped on parts of the country’s stunning coastline.

And there is likely to be little respite for parks and beaches as large swathes of the country head out once again on Thursday to soak up predicted temperatures of 33C in London, while parts of Wales could see highs of 34C.

Beaches in Bournemouth and Brighton were already packed with families enjoying the balmy weather by midday – with scorching temperatures having already since to 30C in some places.

However, it was a different picture just hours earlier, when early risers found several tents on Bournemouth beach, despite a ban on camping, while litter was left piled high beside bins and across the sand on Brighton beach.

Residents on the southwest coast, in Plymouth, Devon, also woke to find the detritus left behind in the city’s popular Barbican area overnight – where hundreds of people packed onto the waterfront, ignoring coronavirus social distancing rules.

The streets were covered in rubbish this morning, including tampons and used condoms, Plymouth Live reports.

Residents were also reportedly faced with people having sex in public, as well as urinating and defecating in back streets.

Ampthill Town Cricket Club, based at Ampthill Park, in Bedford, tweeted images of rubbish, including broken glass, adding: “Every morning this week we have been greeted by scenes like this. Today there was also evidence of drug use.

“Thank you to the park rangers who are also working tirelessly to clear the mess around the ground and park generally.”

A suitcase, parasol and fridge were among items abandoned on beaches in Durdle Door, Dorset, where volunteers filled more than 30 bags with rubbish.

Dorset councillor Laura Miller tweeted: “Is it still ‘iconic’? Just in from volunteer litter picking. 30 bin bags and counting. Nearly in tears at the state of our home.”

She also shared an image of what she described as human faeces on pebbles near where her children swim at Lulworth Cove.

The Conservative councillor said she was spat at by someone while directing traffic on Wednesday as the roads to Durdle Door and West Lulworth were closed off after car parks quickly filled up.

Police imposed a dispersal order at Hove Lawns, in Sussex, after a fight reportedly broke out as hundreds of, mostly young, people gathered on Wednesday evening.

Jo Shiner, temporary Chief Constable of Sussex Police, described the incident as “shocking behaviour impacting upon everyone trying to be responsible in challenging times”.

She warned: “Sussex Police will take positive action but I would urge young people to think about their behaviour. A criminal record will not help you get a job in the future.”

Video journalist Eddie Mitchell shared footage on Twitter showing several police cars lined up along the seafront as uniformed officers herded crowds away.

Police in Merseyside also imposed a 48-hour dispersal order lasting until Friday after large crowds turned up at Formby Beach, on the Sefton coastline.

Former Love Island contestant Joshua Ritchie, who was allegedly among those who turned up at the beach, was seen carrying a large speaker with friends in a video.

Boris Johnson’s official spokesman declined to comment on particular scenes on beaches, but told reporters: “The prime minister and the government’s scientific and medical advisers have stressed the great importance of the public continuing to adhere to social distancing advice.

“It is only due to the public’s hard work that we have been able to bring the virus under control, and if the rules don’t continue to be followed and the virus starts to spread exponentially again, we will have to look at having to reverse some of the easements that have been put in place and I don’t think anyone in the British public would want that to happen.”

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