ISLANDERS have slammed litter bug daytrippers who left mounds of rubbish on the beaches.

Hundreds of families flocked to Canvey seafront over the scorching Easter bank holiday, leaving behind the rubbish and waste.

Furious residents and even young children held work parties to collect the rubbish and clean up the area.

Lin Browne, 44, from Canvey said: “I found it so upsetting when walking along the seafront and I saw the state of the field and beaches.

“There was just rubbish everywhere.

“I don’t think it takes a lot for people to pick up after themselves.

“We have to teach are kids to look after our planet.

“People should just take a bin bag with them and put all their rubbish in it and take it home.

“We are so lucky to live near the sea, we have to look after it.”

Mitchell Cox, 44, from the island, said his daughter chose to collect some of the rubbish on the beach.

He said: “She told me she wanted to collect rubbish to save the animals.

“We collected a big bag from the beach right next to the amusements.

“It was absolutely disgusting.

“I am shocked that my ten-year-old feels the need to pick up rubbish left my adults.

“We collected various items including beer cans, bottles cigarette packets and this was when the many bins were empty.”

Island beach volunteers said they were shocked as they hadn’t witnesses this.

Barry Palmer, of Canvey Bay Watch, said: “Well our beach, Thorney Bay, was fine.

“This has come as a shock as we were not aware of this.

“I think its disgusting, people use and abuse our facilities after all our hard work.”

The council said it’s aware what needs to be done.

Norman Smith, Tory leader of Castle Point Council said: “It was an exceedingly busy weekend and it took us by surprise.

“We were collecting rubbish but it was piling up as fast.

“We may need to be quicker in future.

“If we need more bins then I will make sure it is sorted out.”