A leading university has apologised over the mess left by boozy students at one of Britain’s most famous sites.
Scores of undergraduates had a picnic party on the lawn in front of the historic Royal Crescent in Bath to celebrate the end of their exams.
They spent the afternoon downing cheap alcohol and eating – but left the area strewn with litter and bottles.
Cigarette packets, plastic bags, beer cans, bottles and food wrappers were left covering the picturesque spot where tourists flock to in their thousands.
The University of Bath apologised and said the mess was “unacceptable” and “disappointing”.
Volunteer litter-pickers were called in to tidy up the debris as the tanked-up students carried on celebrating at their annual summer ball back on their campus.
A University of Bath spokesman said: “The university apologises for the behaviour of some of its students who left the Royal Crescent in an unacceptable state on Saturday evening, and is very grateful to those local volunteers who stepped in to tidy up.
“This unofficial ‘party’ happened prior to the students’ union summer ball that took place on campus, and was an event of which neither the university nor students’ union were aware in advance.
“When we have been made aware of similar events previously, action has been taken to remind students of their responsibility to be good neighbours and clear up after themselves and we will ensure this message is reinforced ahead of future events.
“It is disappointing that the irresponsible and inconsiderate actions of a few should potentially overshadow the positive impact of the voluntary and charity work many University of Bath students do within our shared community throughout the year.”
The summer ball took place at the University of Bath campus on Saturday night and included a set by Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe.
The Royal Crescent is one of Britain’s grandest examples of Georgian architecture and is Grade I listed.
Designed by John Wood the Younger and finished in 1774, it contains 30 magnificent terraced houses in a sweeping crescent.
Some of us actually did clear up our own mess and are disappointed to be tarred with the same brush as those who didn’t. I also objected to this article’s claims that as a group we were drunk on cheap alcohol – it simply isn’t true.