Itsu has apologised after being slammed for leaving rubbish outside its new store at a shopping centre in south Reading.

The new Itsu at Reading Gate Retail Park opened last week on August 9 but has already angered residents and councillors, after piles of rubbish were pictured outside the store this morning.

The British chain has apologised and said the rubbish has now been removed, with the company saying it would take steps to ensure it does not happen again.

Peter Bowyer uploaded the photo to Twitter this morning, adding sarcastically: “Itsu making a classy contribution to the environment in #rdguk.”

Responding to the tweet, Reading councillor Karen Rowland said: “Really shameful. We need to be expecting better of organisations like Itsu.

“If you show that you don’t care about your community, is your community going to come and buy your food?”

Others also expressed their disappointment, with Helen Copping calling it “disgusting” and James Lamb saying it is “disappointing” Itsu is “not capable” of managing its waste at the new Reading restaurant.

Other pointed out the juxtaposition between the writing on the wall and the rubbish in front of it.

Reading Chronicle: PICTURED: Queues outside the new Itsu at Reading Gate Retail ParkPICTURED: Queues outside the new Itsu at Reading Gate Retail Park

An itsu spokesman said: "We are very sorry this situation occurred. It was a result of some missed collections this week.

"We take our commitment to the local community very seriously and can confirm that the rubbish has now gone. We have taken steps to ensure this does not happen again.”