Councils count the cost of increased litter picking after lockdown easing

• Video report by ITV News correspondent Rupert Evelyn

Litter left in parks and on beaches has reached epidemic levels after coronavirus lockdown eased, according to campaign group Keep Britain Tidy.

Councils have spent 81% more on clearing litter than before - with a reported average of 57 tonnes of additional waste left in parks in the last three months.

Peter Ryan, the founder of litter picking group Dorset Devils, clears litter in Bournmouth's parks with his team of volunteers.

“The litter these days, unfortunately you are going to look at it as contaminated rubbish so we have got to deal with it,” he said. “And that goes from tissues, nappies, wet wipes, even human waste.”

• Overflowing bin and rubbish left in Cardiff Bay after large crowds on Saturday

• Crowds escaping heat leave masses of rubbish behind

Over half of the country’s parks have had to pull in extra resources to deal with litter and anti-social behaviour since lockdown eased.

Councils have spent anything between £30,000 and £150,000 extra on managing parks post lockdown.

Litter picker Sue Coates told ITV News: “We do the best we can to keep it nice for people. It’s always nice and clean when they arrive in the mornings.

“Unfortunately, it’s when they leave in the evenings we notice it all.”