Parks and beaches left covered in rubbish as Brits flout UK lockdown to sit in sun

Brits heading out to parks and beauty spots across the UK this weekend have left behind huge quantities of rubbish.

It comes as the lockdown restrictions are being eased and people have been meeting friends outdoors while socially distancing.

Local councils and charities have urged visitors to clean up after themselves when visiting outdoor spaces.

Shocking photos taken at Durdle Door, Dorset, show a pile of rubbish on the beach that was left behind by people sunbathing yesterday.

Huge amounts of gas canisters were found at Southsea Common, Hampshire, after hundreds of visitors enjoyed the warm weather yesterday.

For the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, read our liveblog here

Visitors left their rubbish behind after visiting Southsea Common in Hampshire (pictureexclusive.com)

Other items found at the park include alcohol containers and barbecues.

Friends of Roundhay Park, a charitable organisation working to preserve the Leeds park, were outraged to find piles of rubbish scattered over the park.

Pictures show food packaging, empty bottles and even dirty nappies left behind.

Disposable bbqs were also found at parks (pictureexclusive.com)

On a Twitter post, they asked visitors to take their rubbish with them when leaving the park.

A councillor has urged people to tidy up after themselves after a park in Lichfield, Staffordshire, was left strewn with litter.

Cllr Hugh Ashton, a Lib Dem member of Lichfield City Council, said: "Beacon Park is a wonderful community asset for the people of Lichfield.

"Let’s keep it that way – tidy up after yourselves."

Rubbish left at at Formby beach in Merseyside (Liverpool Echo)

Among the items left by visitors, there were bottles and food containers (Liverpool Echo)

A beach in Merseyside was trashed by visitors who left bottles, cans, food containers and bags on the sand.

The shocking scenes at Formby beach in Merseyside came despite pleas from police for people to continue social distancing.

The beach at Durdle Door was full of rubbish left by visitors (Graham Hunt/BNPS)

Boris Johnson announced on Thursday that from tomorrow groups of six people can meet outside - but must keep two metres distance from members of different households.

Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, called for people to obey the new rules and expressed fears of a second wave if they were ignored.

He told the daily Downing Street press conference on Saturday that the Government and the public had a "dual responsibility" to prevent a second wave of the virus.

He added: "I believe this is also a very dangerous moment. We have to get this right."