by Amanda Greaves T&A Reporter Extra patrols and cleaning operations will start at beauty spots from Easter say police and Council heads, after an early influx of visitors left litter strewn across the Wharfedale area.

Unusually warm weather last weekend brought crowds to East Holmes Field and the riverside area north of the River Wharfe at Ilkley.

Litter bins were left overflowing and food cartons were dumped along with packaging, bottles and other mess. Similar problems have been reported at picnic spots throughout the area.

Ilkley in Bloom, preparing for the national Britain in Bloom competition this summer, considered carrying out its own litter picking operation after the first busy day, but predicted more mess on Sunday.

Police and Bradford Council officers, however, said they were already planning to increase their activities in the area as the warmer weather approaches.

The Council’s principal parks and woodland manager, David Cansfield, said: “We always encourage visitors to Ilkley and all the Bradford district's beauty spots to take their picnic litter home with them but we can’t force them to do so. What litter was left last weekend in Ilkley was cleared up by Bradford Council at the earliest opportunity on Monday.

“This year we have commissioned extra weekend and bank holiday cleaning resources between Easter and the end of August, to make sure the influx of visitors does not spoil the parkland and riverside with litter every time the weather is warm and sunny.”

Police Inspector Sue Sanderson says extra patrols are planned from the Easter weekend onwards in the main visitor areas.

  • Read the full story in Thursday's T&A