Residents clear up ‘horrific’ mess left at Southwick Hill

Revellers had left disposable barbecues, a gazebo and dozens of nitrous oxide canisters at the beauty spot on the last weekend of June.

The mess was spotted by ultra runner Zoe Norman, who posted a video of the devastation on Facebook.

Sue Pinky was among those who watched it and immediately decided to join Zoe in taking action.

Sue, who moved to Lancing last year but still calls herself a Southwick girl, said the mess was ‘absolutely awful’.

“It’s just horrific to see such a beautiful area ruined,” she said. “The fact that no one had the respect to clear it up themselves.

“It’s just really frustrating. You took it there, so take it back.”

Sue often takes her dog for a walk in the area and said there were cows in nearby fields.

“When you think of all the wildlife up there that could have been injured!” she said.

She was one of around seven residents who went to tidy up the spot – including a woman who drove over from Storrington to help out.

Some of the rubbish had already been dealt with by the time they got there, but the group still spent around half an hour picking up remaining bits of glass and cigarette butts.

The council has been informed of the incident.

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