Apology after leavers made a mess

School leavers left vodka bottles, beer cans, broken glass and used condoms behind after an end of exams party.

The 16-year-olds from Homewood School in Tenterden took up residence on the football field at the recreation ground in the town last Friday afternoon.

Tenterden’s deputy mayor Cllr Sue Ferguson rolled up her sleeves to help the town council’s groundsman who was struggling to clear the volume of rubbish, which also included cigarette packets, used sanitary towels, canisters and balloons, water bottles, cola bottles, sandwich and food containers, crisp packets and tissue paper.

Cleaning the mess was a priority before the Armed Forces Day celebration in Tenterden on Saturday.

Tenterden town councillor Callum Knowles described the football field as “a scene of devastation” in the aftermath of the party.

He said the council’s groundsman arrived at 5am on Saturday to clear the field before Armed Forces Day and was also helped by Capt Jonathan Slegg, the event organiser.

Capt Slegg said: “There was glass everywhere on the field and it had to be cleared up because kids would be coming to the day.”

It was the last day of school for the Year 11s who had just finished their GCSEs and onlookers reported that around 70 had gathered in the football field.

The mess left behind provoked an angry reaction from Tenterden residents, who vented their fury on social media, although some were sympathetic to the pupils’ end of term party.

Cllr Ferguson said that the clear up operation had involved hours and work and resulted 10 sacks of rubbish being removed.

She described the mess left as “appalling” but added. “We don’t want to stop kids having fun but there’s no need to leave rubbish and smash bottles.”

Tenterden Town Council clerk Phil Burgess said that the council would be contacting Homewood about the issue and that he felt the school should have “input” into dealing with issues that arose in the community.

He added: “There was a huge amount to clear up in the field the day before the armed forces celebrations and the groundsman was struggling to deal with it before Sue [Cllr Ferguson] helped.

“The main issue was the broken bottles that were left.

“It’s appalling and dangerous and the glass could easily hurt children. “We have to go through with fingertips to remove it all.”

Bottles and food containers were left on the recreation ground as school leavers celebrated the end of term - which a council worker had to clear up