Calls for action to stop fly-tipping at beauty spot

Rubbish dumped at Weelsby Woods in Grimsby

A community group in North East Lincolnshire has spoken of its devastation after rubbish was fly-tipped at a beauty spot.

The rubbish, which was left at Weelsby Woods in Grimsby, included a child's climbing frame, human waste and wood chippings.

Friends of Weelsby Woods group members said seeing the amount of litter was upsetting.

A councillor said more protection was needed for spaces like the woodland.

Jemmima Edwards, from the Friends of Weelsby Woods, believes chipped trees that were left behind were not from the woodland

A spokesperson for North East Lincolnshire council said following a summons a group of 14 caravans had left the site on 7 July.

The beauty spot is a protected nature reserve.

Jemmima Edwards, from the Friends of Weelsby Woods group, told BBC Radio Humberside it was upsetting to see the amount of litter at the woodland.

Ms Edwards said: "We are inviting the council to come and speak to us to come up with ideas and to see what can be done."

Local councillor Matthew Patrick called on North East Lincolnshire council to put in protections and provisions to better protect sites like Weelsby Woods.

He said: "I feel strongly the council needs to look at its own practices when you have groups of travellers like the ones we had that were disrespectful neighbours."

Mr Patrick continued: "It varies greatly from one group of travellers to another. Some leave the site as they find it but when you have pitched up on a nature reserve, anybody who mistreats the land and leaves it like it is, nobody is welcome to do that."

A council cleaning team has since removed litter from Weelsby Woods.

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