Broken bottles and faeces left where kids and dogs go paddling
MUM TELLS OF HER DISGUSTING FINDS AT POPULAR SPOT
A MUM was shocked to discover broken glass and what appeared to be human faeces dumped by a river where children often go paddling.
Rachael Middleton came across the vile mess by Soper’s Bridge, near Stoney Stanton.
The mum has spoken out to warn other families to take care when visiting the green space.
She said: “I picked up a lot of broken beer bottle glass. There were also beer bottles thrown into the river.
“I had to tie my dog up while I tried to find it all so she didn’t come to any harm.
“I am not sure I collected it all so please be careful, especially children with bare feet paddling. Please also watch your dogs.
“If they wander into the trees they may come across lots of used tissue and human poo. I’m sorry, but I wasn’t picking that up with my bare hands!”
Rachael said she returned in the afternoon with a litter picker and cleared up the rest of the foul mess as best she could.
She has lived on Sopers Bridge Farm all her life and has a sevenyear-old son.
She said: “We have seen a lot more walkers along the footpaths on our land and at the bridge during lockdown, and most people are respectful but a small minority always spoil it.
“This behaviour angers me – I used to enjoy my morning walks.
“Stay safe, respect the countryside and farmer’s property, take litter home.”
Just to the north of the bridge is another nature spot, Croft Hill, where there have been problems with people leaving their rubbish behind.
A person posted some pictures of laughing gas canisters left there on the Spotted Croft Facebook page.
They said in the post: “Found a lot of these yesterday around Croft Hill.
“Can people dispose of drug paraphernalia appropriately as there are a lot of children and animals to look out for.
“Picked up at least 15 and put them in our bin.”
During the hot weather in the early part of the week, other reports came in of litter and waste being left around the county included beer cans, food wrappers and tampons.