Ah the summer sun...............

We are fortunate to live very near the sea and perhaps even more fortunate in that we have a large common also by the sea. So what could be nicer on a warm, sunny, Sunday afternoon than to drag the sleeping dog from his cool patch on the floor, out for a nice hot walk.

Our dog loves the common, he is a pig ( well not a pig obviously,) but a terrible scavenger and on a warm day with wall to wall people he is assured of finding juicy titbits, bread, burgers, chicken bones, icecream and many other unsuitable items which he hoovers up with gay abandon. So we set off and sure enough most of the common and all of the seafront were covered in people taking advantage of the warm weather.

Large groups of people were barbecuing and sunbathing, people playing ball and frisbees with their children, boys playing football and generally everyone enjoying the weather and having fun. Idyllic, you might think................not so.

The litter was appalling, despite huge bins everywhere, huge mobs of young men and not so young men throwing lager down their necks and onto the grass, broken glass everywhere, vile language, people shrieking, the whole effect was squalid and depressing. There are signs pointing out alcohol free zones but not much evidence of anyone taking any notice.

What sort of society are we when some of us appear to enjoy destroying a local beauty spot with our disgusting rubbish? How difficult is it to get up, gather it all up and stick it in the bins provided?

Of course the majority do clear up after themselves but sadly there will always be the few
ignorant slobs who really couldn't care less. Apparently, there is a trial scheme in Hartlepool underway where they have operators watching CCTV and as soon as the operator sees a litter lout he can bellow at them to pick it up and bin it............Hartlepools' litter problem has nearly been eradicated! How I'd love to have a job like that!!

By the way, the dog ate a piece of burger and a few sweets so he was quite happy!