A FRUSTRATED litter picker was left disgusted after a trip to a charity-run nature reserve resulted in the clean-up of alcohol and ‘crusty underwear’.

Charly Pyne, 31, from Millom, had visited Hodbarrow Nature Reserve, which is run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) on the Duddon Estuary, with her husband Stephen and their 10-month-old son and family dog.

The reserve is home to a variety of birds, including a large number of wildfowl in the winter.

The family litter pick at the vital nature reserve on a weekly basis, armed with gloves and a litter picker to avoid touching anything grisly.

Mrs Pyne has noted that since the relaxation of the lockdown rules they have seen a major increase in litter everywhere, but especially at Hodbarrow.

On her latest expedition, she discovered masses of litter, with clothes strewn all over, including black jeans, boxers, and enough underwear to fill a bin-bag.

Mrs Pyne said: “This is the second time we have found a load of clothes in the same spot by the water's edge in line with the old lighthouse and stone bench. There was also a full unopened bottle of vodka, an old football net, earphones and lots of bottles, cans and crisp wrappers.

“I’m not sure who keeps stripping off and leaving their clothes down there but please stop it. Just take them home with you as it’s really gross to have to pick up your crusty underwear.”

She said she makes sure that clothing is left for a few days before being picked up in case the people they belong to come back to claim them - but there were no takers on these ones.

She said: “I think it’s people going for a swim, after a few drinks, in their clothes then not wanting to go back in wet clothes.

"That’s the most logical theory I have. We were very disgusted, especially the underwear as no-one wants to deal with that.”