DIRTY nappies, women’s underwear and glass bottles were among piles of rubbish left littering Southend seafront after the hottest day in years.

Seven miles of beach between Shoebury and Leigh were left looking like a landfill site after crowds of sun worshippers descended on the seafront.

Some residents have called for more bins and litter pickers, but others say lazy tourists should clean up after themselves.

James Donnelley, who has organised beach cleans for campaign group Surfers Against Sewage, was outraged by the state of Chalkwell Beach.

The 43-year-old, of Thames Drive, Leigh, said: “People just use and abuse the beach.

“They go for the day and then throw everything on the sand or grass without thinking where it’s going to end up.

“I sawbuckets and spades, kids’ toys, barbecues and fast food wrappers.

“It’s a little bit like we are being used as a toilet.”

Southend Council has installed 50 extra temporary bins along the seafront, boosting the total to 300, which contractors from Cory Environmental were clearing between 6am and 10pm.

Binmen collected about ten tonnes of rubbish, including from seafront bins, throughout the shift. But the bins quickly became overwhelmed and many bathers, who were enjoying the seafront past 10pm, were just leaving rubbish on the sand.

Many people have blamed daytrippers from outside the borough.

Cadets from Leigh Sailing Club were so shocked by the state of Bell Wharf beach they took bin bags and cleared it themselves, collecting three bags – and a bike that had been thrown in the sea – in about 15 minutes. Cadet helper Ainslie Masterton, of Westminster Drive, Westcliff, said: “You could see more rubbish than beach. The amount of rubbish was pretty overwhelming.

“I felt sad for all the people who had come from work to enjoy their local coastline to find it not in a condition where they could enjoy it. I was so proud of the cadets because it was their idea to clean it up.

“We went to the beach because it was so warm and we were just standing there shocked at how bad it was.”

Paul Thompson, owner of the Pebbles One cafe and chairman of Southend Seafront Traders Association, said: “I’m used to it, but it’s a bit of a sad part of society.

“I was taught as a child to put my rubbish in the dustbin.

“But unfortunately I’ve seen some tourists leaning on a bin and throwing rubbish on the floor.”