Our secret beach is being ruined by filthy tourists – they dump rubbish, use drugs and drink heavily

LITTERBUG tourists have been blasted for invading and ruining what locals have come to cherish as their own "secret beach".

Louts have been strewing rubbish while binge-drinking at the surprise resort in Leeds in West Yorkshire - despite desperate attempts by nature-lovers to preserve it.

The wrecking sprees have turned Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve into an eyesore, according to hard-working volunteers devoted to keeping it clean.

The open space offers a pebbly beach as well as woodland, close to the River Aire - but has become popular with not only local residents, dog-walkers and staycationers, but also heavy drinkers and drug users.

Volunteer group Litter Free Leeds has won praise for their valiant clear-up efforts, including filling up 15 large bin bags and retrieving a large shopping trolley during a recent expedition.

But they fear could be fighting an increasingly losing cause, faced by the mess too many visitors are now leaving behind.

Their discoveries include "hundreds of cans", drugs paraphernalia and even a cracked open safe, reports.

One of the volunteers, retired NHS worker Janice Martin, said: "I picked up a load of needles, among other things, under one of the bridges.

"I think it's just sad for the people who are using."

Another, retired office worker Anne, said: "We found a trolley today.

"Cans, bottles, snack packets.

"It makes you cross - why can't they leave their trolley where they've gone shopping?"

And Howard, a former plumber, said: "We found a safe that was broken into and left.

"We find cans, hundreds and hundreds of cans - they're even full.

"Why can't they take them home empty?

"If there's litter about, people will leave more litter - but if they don't see litter, they won't litter."

The 4,500-volunteer group has, however, been praised for their toils by Leeds city council.

A spokesperson said: "We get a huge amount of support from Litter Free Leeds and other volunteers and groups across the city who actively work to help keep the city clean - and to whom we say a big thank you."

Other supposed seaside beauty spots criticised for becoming eyesores include a stretch in the Devon town of Plymouth, strewn with drugs paraphernalia, rubbish and human faeces.

Similar complaints about neglectful holiday-makers have come in the North Yorkshire resort of Whitby, Southend-on-Sea in Essex and Camber Sands in East Sussex - with protests coming not only from locals but also visitors recording their experiences online on TripAdvisor.