VILLAGERS have hit out at litterbugs dumping their rubbish in play parks.

Purton Parish Council put a picture on its Facebook page of litter left less than a metre from a bin in the village centre play park.

In a statement, a spokeswoman said: “It is with great sadness and frustration that this picture is posted.

“The parish council has invested in new recycling bins and the ability to be more conscious with its waste.

“Less than a metre away from the recycling bin all the recyclable materials – bottles, paper, cans – are strewn on the floor.

“If your child attends this play park, please educate them on the importance of waste being placed in the correct bins and not on the floor.”

Purton Parish Council provides general waste bins and recycling bins in the area.

Chairwoman of the play area and recreation committee Sue Relfe said: “As a council, we recognise the ever-increasing need to recycle and we are doing as much as we can by providing recycling bins in the areas where we get a lot of plastic waste.”

She added: “However, despite the large number of bins and regular emptying, people still throw waste wherever they might be.

"We've noticed an increase in rubbish during the last few months and I propose to contact the heads of the two village schools to ask that they bring this to the attention of their pupils when they return in September.”

The parish council is putting an article in the Purton Magazine to highlight this issue.

Villagers expressed their anger on the Purton Parish Council Facebook page. Sarah Selwood said: “Shocking. You wonder why you give them these facilities in the first place. I blame the parents.”

Rebecca Johnson said: “This most probably is people in the village who, don’t care about the village of Purton.

“Just the same as picking up the dog poo, there is a bin for it.”

Wiltshire Council is responsible for the general and dog waste bins on the public highways in the village.

Wiltshire Councillor for Purton and Braydon Jacqui Lay added: “It may be that patrols are needed in these hotspots to help educate those who don’t understand what their actions are costing society and the world.”