Beachgoers have slammed a parent for leaving a dirty nappy in the sand at Portheras Cove.

Friends of Portheras Cove shared an image of the disturbing find on Facebook and visitors and locals alike have taken to social media to share their disgust.

Sharing the post, a representative for the group wrote: "What kind of parent thinks it's OK to leave a dirty nappy on the sand for other children to play in...??!!"

But the community conservation group had to correct residents who assumed holidaymakers were the only ones to blame for littering.

Commenting on the public post, which has been shared a number of times, Jay Gunn wrote: "Why! What is wrong with people for goodness sake, they don’t live here so they don’t care basically."

The grim discovery made on Portheras Cove
The grim discovery made on Portheras Cove

Friends of Portheras Cove responded: "Not all of the litter comes from visitors - plenty is left by locals sad to say."

The beach in Pendeen is privately owned and is therefore cleaned by volunteers.

The group says it also finds human poo, wet wipes, tampons, panty liners and used toilet roll.

This is how others reacted to the grim discovery

Ian Flindall commented: "Beginning to think it should be access by invitation or membership only. I’m fed up with it being advertised as a dog-friendly beach and then having to pick up the poo bags all over the place."

Brie Burton: "Just shocks me generally what people leave on beaches, coast paths etc. I was brought up to take all rubbish home, really doesn't take much... Some humans unfortunately don't see it that way."

Helen Croucher: "Gross. It seem to be a regular thing every time we go to out local beach we always end up doing a small beach clean and there is always a nappy! I have two small children myself it's not difficult to put it in the bin or a nappy bag and take it home."

Viv Braznell: "It's disgraceful. I saw exactly the same on the beach at Oddicombe where there are plenty of rubbish bins. Makes you wonder what their homes must be like."

Paula Johnson: "It's not just the beaches. Last time we went to Trevaylor woods there were dirty nappies showed in bushes. It was out of season so unlikely to be tourists."

Sarah Stewart-Smith: "Disgusting. I saw a woman pull into a small layby by a neighbour's house and throw a dirty nappy over the hedge... Into her garden! Mentioned it to my neighbour and she said people toss allsorts of trash into her garden from the layby. What are they thinking?"

Judy Lynn Wetherell: "How hard is it to bag it and bin it, disgusting."

Linda Trevethan: "Filthy people, I’m afraid you can’t educate people like that."

Jane Andrew: "Disgusting ones! Poor you having to clear up after them, but thanks for doing so!"

Sara McKay-mead: "How disrespectful to others and the environment."

Sean N Debbie Butcher: "Picked up a few in Newquay... Not nice."

Joy Hamilton: "What sort of people do that! So disgusting!"