It looked like 'the morning after the sledge before' as broken bits of sledges lay strewn across a city beauty spot.

Norwich Evening News: The Archant Norfolk staff including Simon Finlay, Emily Dixon, Gareth Lewis, Emma Knights, Siofra Connor and Denise Bradley who volunteered to clear up all the broken sledges left on St Jame's Hill on Mousehold Heath in Norwich.PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAYThe Archant Norfolk staff including Simon Finlay, Emily Dixon, Gareth Lewis, Emma Knights, Siofra Connor and Denise Bradley who volunteered to clear up all the broken sledges left on St Jame's Hill on Mousehold Heath in Norwich.PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY (Image: Archant Norfolk)

During the snowy weather hundreds of people have been enjoying the thrills of sledging along the slopes of St James Hill at Mousehold Heath against the stunning backdrop of our fine city.

But unfortunately some of the thrill-seekers have showed no regard for the area's beautiful surroundings and left their broken sledges dumped all over ground and in the bushes.

When Evening News photographer Simon Finlay went to take some pictures at Mousehold yesterday, he was shocked at the amount of post-sledging debris littering the area and so organised a team of people to help clean up the rubbish.

The team included photographer Denise Bradley, digital sales specialist Gareth Lewis, digital content assistant Emily Dixon, editorial assistant Siofra Connor, and reporter Emma Knights.

Between them they gathered 18 rubbish bags full of broken bits of sledges along with a plank of wood, a for sale sign, an inflatable ring, and other make-shift items used to slide down the slopes.

Simon said: 'It was brought our attention there were lots of bits of broken sledges on St James Hill.

'I was tasked with going to have a look yesterday morning for a picture, and I was staggered by the amount of broken sledges that had been left there.

'As I returned to the office I just thought why don't we get an Archant Norfolk team together to do something about it.

'A quick shout around the office and we had half a dozen of us in a car on the way back to Mousehold, and an hour later St James Hill was back to its pristine best.'

Following the sledge litter-pick, Evening News editor Nigel Pickover and event sales manager Mervyn Freeman picked up all the rubbish sacks in a van so that the Evening News could dispose of the broken sledges in the appropriate way.

A Norwich City Council spokesman said it was great that people have been enjoying the snow at Mousehold but urged people not to leave their broken sledges behind at St James Hill.

The spokesman said: 'It's been great seeing lots of people, including families with young children, having fun in the snow; and Mousehold Heath is a favourite sledging spot for many.

'We would just remind people, however, to make sure they don't litter this beauty spot and if they do have items which are too large to fit in the bins provided, they take these away with them to dispose of properly.'

• Are you involved in a new community project in Norwich? Call reporter Emma Knights on 01603 772428 or email emma.knights@archant.co.uk