A dad-of-two has slammed 'millennial mentality' after appalling photos show a beauty spot reduced to a sea of trash - within days of lockdown being eased.
James Bunting visited Stoney Bank Quarry near Darwen, Lancashire, on Thursday morning for a walk but was so horrified by the state of the usually beautiful location that he was compelled to photograph it.
The 41-year-old claims a large gathering of young people soaking up the sun on the hottest day of the year on Wednesday had left the nature spot in a scene of 'devastation'.
Despite the area having been postcard perfect days before, it's now covered in bottles, cans, food wrappers and abandoned barbeques.
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The public sector worker claims more than 100 'covidiots' flocked to the location and flouted social distancing rules while there.
James, from Bolton in Greater Manchester, said: "I would say there were around 100 people. It's the mentality of the youth of 'we don't care'. It's the millennial [attitude of] 'I'll do what I want and what are you going to do about it?'
"There's obviously been a gap in education about taking something out with you and taking [litter] home. It's frustrating. There's a real lack of respect for the environment.
"It's abuse. I pick it up with my gloves on as much as I can. Fair enough, come up, enjoy it - but take your litter home. It's just ridiculous."
James set out on Thursday with his Labrador, Pebble, for his daily walk and braced himself for the scene he had being warned of the night before.
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James said: "I've been going up there every morning for a nice walk and to meditate. It's a beautiful spot. For years it's been a local beauty spot and when you go up there it's often littered.
"There are so many deer up there. There's buzzards, owls. It's an SSSI [sight of specific scientific interest] as well - it's protected. This is their natural habitat.
"I don't always go up to that spot, I usually go for a wander around the woods, but I knew I needed to go up [this morning] and see what the devastation was like."
He continued: "There were barbeques that had been lit up there that could cause moorland fires. The fires around there every summer are devastating.
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"I put my wetsuit on and got all the bottles and cans out of the water too. My concern is around what the wildlife would consume. [They could] even be driven out of their habits if it became a regular event."
In a statement, Lancashire Police said: "We received a report at around 6.30pm on May 21st of a large gathering off Stones Bank Road, Belmont. An officer has been in the area and moved them on.
"We would advise people to follow The Government guidance by practicing social distancing. The incident was also reported to the council as some litter was left in the area."
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News and MediaTopics: News, Coronavirus, UK