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A woman has hit out at those dumping rubbish at a beauty spot in Hull saying the "human race is appalling".

Nicky Smedley, who lives nearby Howdale Road, has reported rubbish dumped in and around Foredyke Drain, which runs just yards away from Kingswood Academy, to Hull City Council and the Environment Agency and says something must be done.

She says she is disgusted people have allowed the beauty spot to get in such a state and believes they are using it as a "rubbish dump".

Mrs Smedley, who supervises sports facilities in schools, is also a scuba diver and has a passion for the ocean environment and raising awareness about ocean plastics and pollution.

She pointed out everything from shopping trolleys to traffic cones and wheel trims when she met Hull Live there at the beauty spot this week.

As well as in the drain itself, mounds of waste also litter the banks of the stream.

The mess is visible from Wawne Road and is situated over the edges of a bridge close to the secondary school, however, it is unclear where the waste has come from.

The water course runs into the Holderness Drain and eventually into the Humber Estuary near Alexandra Dock.

The murky water intersects Wawne Road just north of the school which welcomes just under 1,000 students through its doors every day.

Mrs Smedley said: "I first noticed it last weekend. I came down, had a look at it and it was quite shocking so I got in touch with the Environment Agency and our local council.

"It is shockingly bad. I have never seen anything like this. It has just been dumped and left. It is a lack of respect for the environment, for everybody in general against each other."

Mrs Smedley says she believes it is not instilled in younger generations today that they must not litter.

"It is just a lack of respect for everything," she said. "It is a case of just throw away, it doesn’t matter where it goes.

"We have got a selfish attitude and there is no common decency any more, no manners.

"Personally I was always brought up to be polite and courteous and put things in the bin when I have finished with them and throw them away but today’s generation, it is totally different. They don’t get taught that any more I believe.

"It is disgusting. The human race for me is just appalling to treat an area, which is supposed to be a nature reserve, with so much disregard.

"It makes me feel very angry knowing that plastic pollution at the moment is causing detrimental effect on our oceans and echo systems and wildlife and marine life and we are just making it worse by leaving things like this."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed the issue does not fall under its remit.

Councillor Anita Harrison, portfolio holder for Street Scene at the council, said: "By taking a tough stance on enforcement, we can deter any potential offenders. We encourage members of the public not to shrink from reporting any perpetrators they see.

"We will prosecute and, when convicted, we will name and shame in the hope that we can stamp out this antisocial behaviour.

“Dumping waste is a crime - help us and make those who do it pay for it. See it, report it, stop it."

Huge clean-up operation in Bransholme

It comes after more thant five tonnes of dumped waste have been cleaned up in Cumbrian Way in Bransholme.

The pictures in the video below show the huge clean-up operation that saw Hull City Council clear more than five-and-a-half tonnes of waste.

The street had become a dumping ground for illegal activity, forcing the authority to step-in and remove a large amount of fly-tipped rubbish.

The area was also litter-picked, with the grounds maintenance team attending to clear back unruly shrubbery and trees.

Watch: Before and after pictures of the clean-up in Cumbrian Way

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Teams spent two days cleaning the area, costing the council about £3,800.

Cllr Harrison said: “Improving environmental standards is a top priority for the council and we are prosecuting those who fly-tip.

“What it is important to remember is, that where people see fly-tipping it is because someone has committed an illegal act, not because the council hasn’t cleaned it up.

“I can sympathise with anyone concerned about fly-tipping in our city. We take each instance very seriously and spend more than £250,000 every year cleaning up after people.

"Our focus is on trying to prosecute those that we can identify but need information and support from residents to do this.

“Fly-tipping and littering is antisocial behaviour and there is no excuse for it.”

Those who see fly-tipping should call 01482 300 300, report it online or visit their local Customer Service Centre.

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