RESULTS from Much Marcle's bi-annual litter picks show that a littering problem, which was much reduced last year, may be getting worse again.

Much Marcle Parish Council has established a biannual community litter pick, in October and March, and the results are revealing when compared.

Newly released statistics for the south side of Much Marcle, along the Dymock Road, and along Kempley Road, have been causing some concern.

A Much Marcle parish council spokesman said: "During 2014, local volunteers picked up twelve full black bags

of litter and in 2015 we picked up just 6.5 bags; but in the

first three months of 2016 we have collected seven

bags already.

"Those seven bags contained 134 recyclable items, such as glass, plastic bottles and cans, of which 31 were from a single global brand of soft sugary drinks - Coca Cola."

The spokesman added: "What do these data say about people’s behaviour? What would persuade them to show more concern for their own health and our local environment? A 20% tax on the price of soft sugary drinks, announced in the budget last March, could help if Parliament has the will to implement it.

"Would a deposit return scheme, as they have in Germany, provide a better incentive to persuade people not to drop their empty bottles and cans along our roads?"

Earlier this year, a Much Marcle lady, who did not wish to be named, had been carrying out her own litter picks around the village and said there was enough litter between Much Marcle and Ross "to stuff a mattress".

But fly-tipping and littering is not just a problem for Much Marcle. There has been heavy littering along the Ledbury bypass and last week West Mercia Police revealed there had been fly tipping on the Worcester Road, just outside Ledbury. In this case, the rubbish appeared to be mainly broken up furniture or wood.

Last month, Tesco in Ledbury announced it was removing all its recycling bins,

Manager Mel Yates said he had taken the decision after food waste and even broken up furniture had been dumped there.