A KNIFE and a BBQ were among the rubbish left at a park strewn with litter as people flocked to popular green spaces over the weekend.

Crowds of people descended on parks across Waltham Forest as the capital baked in glorious sunshine with temperatures soaring to 25C.

But it was not all fun as images on social media began surfacing the next day showing overflowing bins, discarded beer bottles and bags of rubbish left for birds to peck at.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Knife left for anyone to pick up

The beauty spot by Highams Park Lake, just off Charter Road, proved very popular as walkers on Monday were disgusted to see mounds of rubbish left behind.

To the shock of resident, Jeff Cox, he stumbled upon a well-used barbecue and a greasy knife left on a pavement.

Images of the enviro-crime sparked fury among residents who said Highams Park was not only the victim of the “fair weather tourist rubbish”.

Janice Whitehall said the Chingford Plains and Epping Forest are also littered with remnants of a lazy weekend.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Sausage anyone?

She said: “It’s heart-breaking. I walk my dogs there every day and regularly pick up plastic bottles, picnic remnants and broken glass.

“Only one bin at the entrance, but for the love of God take their rubbish with them. It makes me so angry, there’s no respect for our wonderful environment.”

Highams Park councillor, Sheree Rackham, said it is not acceptable for people to leave the park in that state.

She added: “I tried to clean up as much as I could but going forward users of the park need to treat the park better, they seemed to be mostly teenagers.”

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Clyde Loakes said the council was aware of the rubbish left behind in Highams Park, which has now been cleaned up.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series:

Boozy remnants

He added: “We understand that our parks would have been busier over the weekend due to the great weather, but there is absolutely no excuse for people not clearing up after themselves.

“We want to keep our parks clean and safe for everyone to enjoy, and we ask everyone to do their bit by taking their waste home with them or putting it in the bins provided.”