PUBLIC spirited people are clearing up after days of partying by groups left heaps of rubbish at local beauty spots.

Drug needles, human excrement, cans, bottles, food containers and barbecues were among the items that were found dumped.

Among the sites blighted by the discarded waste were Judy Woods, Goit Stock waterfalls and Cottingley Woods.

The clear-ups followed the announcement by the Prime Minister of an easing of coronavirus restrictions during the spell of fine weather.

Jonathan Doolan, who took the pictures of the rubbish strewn around Goit Stock waterfalls, said: “Someone local said it was packed on the Monday bank holiday.

“Some rubbish had already been cleared away by locals. And this was from after that. Even all the bins we’ve seen have been overflowing. There was also loads of little gas canisters littered all over the place.

“It’s truly appalling.”

Laura Noble told the T&A that hundreds of people had been at the site recently.

She said: "The inconsiderate and dangerous parking of cars in Cullingworth and Harden to get to the falls has been a real problem. And the police have have been called a few times to trouble caused by the influx of visitors."

Local councillors are trying to deal with the recent situation at Goit Stock and also put a long-term plan in place to look after it.

Coun Paul Sullivan (Con, Bingley Rural) said he had contacted Bradford Council, the police and Shipley MP Philip Davies about the problems, requesting that the police use dispersal orders.

But, as a former policeman himself, he said the police have difficulties in stopping events like those at the waterfalls because of the legal process and stretched resources.

He said: "It is horrendous. The fundamental problem is too many people are lazy and won't take away their rubbish."

He thanked "enterprising community volunteers" who had cleaned up some of the mess and he said he was trying to get the Council clean team to visit and was hopeful of organising a community clean-up himself.

"Most people are supportive and there are a lot of public-spirited people."

Coun Naveed Riaz (Con, Bingley Rural) said: "Something needs to be done. The behaviour of some individuals is ridiculous."

He said the problem had been going on for a couple of months since people from outside the area had discovered Goit Stock and the closure of car parks at other locations had added to the pressure.

"They should respect local residents. If it wasn't for local residents going out first thing, it would be a pig sty. It's absolutely disgusting.

"We must have had 50-60 cars parked up. we've never had this before.

"We need a long-term strategy on parking, litter bins and wardens patrolling.

"We have to thank the local residents who have been clearing up."

Elaine Plester posted on Facebook that she stumbled across a mess in Judy Woods on Sunday.

She said: “After we walked the dogs we dropped them at home and went back with bin liners and gloves.

“We picked up 670 illegal high canisters, large canisters of Smartwhip, empty bottles of every alcoholic drink possible, unsmoked and smoked cigarettes, loads of balloons, empty bags of coke/weed and to top it off a dirty tampax.

“What a classy bunch of humans!”