As the warm weather has basked Northampton, sun-lovers have headed to the town's beauty spots to catch some rays.
Parks across the borough, and further afield, have been busy all week as temperature rose to more than 30C.
However, as parks such as Abington and Delapre are used more, the ugly issue of litter has increased once again.
There have also been litter problems reported in Wootton Recreation Field, Upton Country Park and more parks.
Empty boxes of beer, plastic bottles, broken glass bottles, disposable barbecues, laughing gas canisters and more have been found abandoned in the town's parks.
During the last week, Chronicle & Echo has been contacted by several readers who have expressed their disgust at people not taking their rubbish to the bin, or home with them if the bin is full.
Litterers have been called 'lazy' and onlookers have been left embarrassed by the problem.
Selfless volunteers have even been giving up their spare time to restore the town's parks to their natural beauty.
The latest rise in litter problems in the town comes just three weeks after Northampton Borough Council launched a new #myparkisyourpark campaign to encourage people to take home their rubbish.
The campaign includes social media hashtags in the hope people will post selfies of them disposing of their rubbish, as well as plans to signpost bins in public places.
When the campaign was launched, Councillor Mike Hallam, cabinet member for the Environment at the Council, said: “We know that the majority of residents dispose of their rubbish in a responsible way.
"However, the actions of a selfish minority ruin everyone’s enjoyment of our streets, parks and open spaces, affects people’s feelings of wellbeing and safety and attracts crime.
“As the lockdown measures are being eased, people need to play their part in shaping the ‘new normal’, leaving behind any old littering habits and taking litter home with them."
Littering can be reported to the council here.Below are pictures that show the shocking extent of the litter issue in Abington Park and Delapre.
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Rubbish has been left a plenty at Northampton's beauty spots. Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team/Facebook.
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More rubbish left by the bin in Delpare after it became too full. Photo: Northampton Neighbourhood Policing Team/Facebook.
