Large ditches have appeared in the car park of a popular Wiltshire beauty spot.

This summer, large trenches have appeared in the land on either side of King's Drive in Axford.

The ditches have the impact of preventing cars from parking up alongside the road, making it harder to access the public footpath Coombe Way.

Coombe Way, leading down to the weir, is a popular route for walkers as well as wild-water swimmers.

Swindon Advertiser: Axford Weir Axford Weir (Image: Anna Kane)

The Axford weir forms a part of River Kennet. A spokesperson from environmental organisation Action for the River Kennet (ARK), describes the weir as “a popular local spot”.

They said that locals had noticed an increase of people parking up “during lockdown and throughout last summer”, and that residents had reported antisocial behaviour in and around the river.

Before the appearance of these trenches, large logs were placed on the roadside.

Both changes “are likely to be in response to the problems caused last summer”, said the spokesperson, but they couldn’t confirm details.

Marlborough resident, Arabella Mansfield (20), who has previously enjoyed visiting the weir, is distressed by what’s been done.

“It seems like quite an extreme response”, she says about the ditches.

“It’s a shame, because I used to love walking down there, but it feels like quite a hostile place now."