A MAN from Gobowen has urged people using drive-thru restaurants to take their rubbish home after seeing large amounts of litter in nearby lanes.

Matt Peate was riding his bike a day after KFC had re-opened on the Maesbury Road Industrial Estate, and spotted waste left on a lane between Gobowen and Weston Rhyn which had been left by customers who had been to the drive-thru.

He is now urging customers to be more considerate to the area and refrain from littering.

During lockdown, Matt says he has seen no litter in nearby lanes, and hopes people can ensure this continues by taking their rubbish home.

He said: "[During lockdown] everything's been so clean – you can see the bottom of the canal, the rivers and skies are clear and there have been fewer cars on the road.

"I went out for a bike ride on Sunday – KFC had been open a day and there was rubbish all over the lanes.

"I was riding from Gobowen to Weston Rhyn, and it made me stop when I saw it.

"Like I said, it had been open a day and that's what it brings out of people, it's just sad to think some people think that is acceptable."

Although Matt believes the rubbish is the responsibility of the customer, he is urging KFC to make its stance against littering clearer.

"I just couldn't believe it when I saw it – it just shows what a lot of people haven't learnt," he said.

"It's not nice – I think it's down to the end user ultimately, but I think KFC have a responsibility at point of collection.

"If they were able to make the message a bit more 'in your face' that they don't endorse littering, or asking customers to please take their rubbish home.

"Just anything that might catch people's eyes and make them decide against littering."

KFC recently launched a campaign to discourage customers from littering as drive-thru stores across the country re-open.

A spokesman said: "Fried chicken fans, we’ve missed you. A lot. And we know you’ve missed us too. We saw those homemade attempts and they really made us smile.

"But something that doesn’t make us smile is people spoiling our communities and wrecking the environment.

"Our team members are on the case carrying out regular litter picks around restaurants.

"So when we still see photos online of KFC litter on UK and Irish streets, we really do throw our wings up in despair.

"Being a good neighbour matters – so we just want to encourage you to take your litter home with you, or toss it in the bin.

"With great chicken comes great responsibility. Let’s all do our bit."