I AM glad that there was a good turnout for Herefordshire Festival of Sport but the running race left me disappointed and angry.

When driving from Hereford towards Hampton Bishop I passed runners throwing plastic water bottles on to the verge and into the hedge.

At the Bunch of Carrots pub I saw that marshals had plastic water bottles and were handing them out to runners as they passed.

I approached the two marshals and asked them if they thought it was acceptable that empty bottles were being thrown into the hedge.

The male marshal replied condescendingly that it would all be cleared up afterwards. The female marshal helpfully suggested in a sarcastic tone that maybe I would like to clear them up myself.

The female marshal’s childish response really irritated me and the rubbish has certainly not all been picked up.

There are still numerous bottles and caps on the side of the road and it is sad that people think littering our beautiful countryside for their convenience is acceptable.

This could have been avoided by bins placed further along the road for runners to dispose of their bottles.

Future runners please act responsibly and organisers take note!

TIM BULMER, Hampton Bishop