BOTTLES of urine and human excrement are among debris found near ancient woodland on the A14 today.Motorists are believed to be responsible for throwing their rubbish into the edge of Spring Wood while parked at a popular lay by just outside Ipswich.

BOTTLES of urine and human excrement are among debris found near ancient woodland on the A14 today.

Motorists are believed to be responsible for throwing their rubbish into the edge of Spring Wood while parked at a popular lay by just outside Ipswich.

On several occasions volunteers and members of the Greenways project have been forced to clean up the mess putting their own health at risk.

James Baker, co-ordinator of the Greenways Project said: "There is a lot of human excrement and urine and in terms of the volunteers who help manage the wood it is obviously not very safe for them to clear up that kind of rubbish without special equipment and training.

"Last year when we were doing management work we realised that there was excrement. This means we could potentially get it on tools and gloves, which is a health hazard and danger."

Babergh Council's litter warden has even put bins alongside the wood to try to deter louts from chucking rubbish but these fill up quickly and bottles of urine, cans and crisp packets are still dumped.

Mr Baker added: "Volunteers and Greenways manage the wood and are horrified by the amount of rubbish.

"This has been going on ever since they built a lay by there.

"Work started at that end of the wood three years ago and huge amounts of rubbish were cleared away in a big tidy up.

"Babergh have put litter bins in the lay by to encourage people not to throw rubbish in the wood. Despite that it still looks like a dumping ground."

Spring Wood is believed to have been in existence since the last Ice Age and is designated a Local Nature Reserve.

Although the rubbish appears to remain just outside the ancient part of the wood it still threatens wildlife.

Mr Baker added: "Bags get filled with water and if mammals smell food and go inside they can drown.

"Spring Wood is a local nature reserve and is important for wildlife and local people. This detracts from people's enjoyment and threatens wildlife."

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