“Litter louts” who leave rubbish in a Marlow park have been criticised by the chairman of the charity that looks after it for the community.

The Marlow Free Press reported last week that anti-social behaviour in Riley Park, including litter being discarded, drug use, criminal damage and underage drinking, is being investigated by Thames Valley Police following a raft of complaints from residents.

The neighbourhood policing team in Marlow sent out a letter urging residents to report anti-social behaviour in the park if they see it happening.

Following the news, Tony Shannon, chairman of the Riley Park Trust, said he was “dismayed” that people were leaving litter in the park.

The park trust is a registered charity, run by a team of voluntary trustees who maintain and look after the area.

It was founded in July 1914 by Edward Riley, who set up a deed that said the area had to be left in trust so children can play safely off the streets.

Mr Shannon said: “At a time when we have raised/invested in excess of £500,000 in regenerating, maintenance and building up its reserves to ensure its long-term future we are dismayed by the litter louts (including school students) who leave large quantities of litter in the park. 

“In doing so they drive up our running costs as we have to pay for its save removal and disposal.”

Residents on Crown Road, which runs alongside the park, have welcomed the police’s commitment to cutting down anti-social behaviour, and admitted that litter is a huge problem in the area.

A resident, who wanted to remain anonymous, said Riley Park appears to be the town’s current “party venue” for young people.

She added: “I picked up a case of empty beer bottles from the park yesterday, so obviously somebody had been having a party. I picked them up because if they get smashed, it is not good for the young children who use the area.

“It is the current party venue but I have been here long enough to know that these venues move. I am sure in a year’s time it will be somewhere else.

“There is always litter at the park because kids are not great at it. Frankly they need to be taught not to do it.”

Her neighbour, Claire Chaplin, agreed that rubbish left scattered around the park is “very disappointing”.

She said: “I see the kids in the park having a nice time and sitting around in the park but they leave all their rubbish there. It is just so stupid. It is what teenagers do, but there are so many bins there.

“I haven’t noticed any bad behaviour in the evenings but I think it happens more down by the Sainsbury’s car park where there are shopping trolleys and things like that. The litter is definitely my bugbear.”

The trust chairman also praised the local policing team for targeting anti-social behaviour and those who have helped secure the park’s future.

He added: “Against that background and for health and safety reasons we are most pleased that our local police force/PCSO teams are taking a direct interest in this anti-social matter.   

“In parallel with this their scheme to work directly with a large number of local schools on the matter is to be commended. 

“This scheme incidentally which is aimed at creating greater awareness that this private Park Trust is not funded by local taxes will also involve the students direct involvement in enhancing the Park with bulb/shrubs planting projects."