FLYTIPPERS discarded a sofa in a charity-run Marlow park last week, sparking anger among residents and the mayor.

Suzanne Brown has voiced her annoyance at the thoughtless litterbugs in Riley Park, which is run in trust for the community.

And the eyesore comes just a week after Cllr Brown raised concerns about the state of the town ahead of next month’s Britain in Bloom competition, following county council maintenance cuts.

The brown leather sofa first appeared at the park on Thursday and was found surrounded by empty bottles and cans, with Cllr Brown fearing it was left there after a party.

She said: “It’s a complete mess, it looks like somebody had a party on Thursday night. As well as the sofa there were bottles and cans everywhere but residents have cleared that up.

"They have just dumped the sofa there. It’s disgraceful to think they can just leave their rubbish there in a public park.

"We want to name and shame them so it doesn’t happen again, it’s not funny. Thankfully it’s quite rare in Marlow, but things like this can start to attract more litter.”

Cllr Brown said the irresponsible culprits’ actions will cost taxpayers money after arranging for Marlow Town Council’s maintenance team to remove the three-seater sofa.

Riley Park has been maintained by a charitable trust since being left to the town in 1914 by Edward Riley, who decreed the ground remains in trust so that children can play safely off the streets.

The registered charity is run by a team of voluntary trustees and receives no funding from councils.

The Trust recently obtained planning permission to install a ‘Heritage Trail’ around the boundary of the park insight into the history of the park and its surroundings.

And a day of celebrations is planned for July 19 as the trust celebrates the centenary of the open space that borders Riley Road, Cambridge Road and Oxford Road.