HUGE piles of litter and traffic gridlock returned to Frensham Great Pond last weekend as the hot spell of summer weather attracted thousands of sun worshippers to the beauty spot.

Bags of rubbish were dumped close to overflowing bins at the Great Pond on Saturday as temperatures soared above 30 degrees celsius – with many even less responsible visitors leaving their detritus strewn across the protected heathland and Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Cars were abandoned on local roads – including on the verges of the busy A287, as well as the rural clearway in Bacon Lane and Pond Lane, implemented in 2013 to ensure the emergency services can safely access the site in the event of a wildfire or other emergency.

A serious accident on the A287 at the northern end of the Great Pond, in which a car left the road and hit a tree at around 3pm, added to the congestion as frustrated motorists tried in vain to pass through the area.

Many angry residents took to social media to protest about the situation, in particular about the huge amount of litter left behind by the crowds of visitors after they had enjoyed a day in the sun at the beauty spot.

Waverley Borough Council, which manages the site on behalf of landowners the National Trust, has promised a crackdown on litter-bugs in response.