Littering has become a bigger and bigger issue for Weston-super-Mare as more and more tourists visit the area and its beaches during the summer season.

In fact, the increase in littering during peak holiday seasons has become so bad that it has led to some calling for a “tourism tax” to be implemented, one that would operate much like those in holiday hot spots such as Spain and Greece.

Sophie Newton runs Sophie’s Super Litter picking, a volunteer community group who meet up monthly to help pick up litter and keep the seaside town clean.

Sophie spoke to the BBC about the littering and potential tax. She said: “The beaches are riddled with nappies, vapes and plastic. More people means more rubbish.

"No one type of person or demographic is to blame. As a seaside town, we simply aren't ever prepared for the influx of visitors and unfortunately, we very much cannot afford the extra provisions required from our council tax alone.

"Whilst I appreciate it will be controversial and not supported by all, it's a huge success in many European countries and the money is being used to support the local economy and tourist areas.”

These European countries have long used additional payments, typically added on to the cost of accommodation at varying prices of around €1-€5 per night, and are implemented to help control over-tourism as well as pay for local investment and community development.

However, councils in England cannot directly impose a tourist tax under current laws.

Leader of the North Somerset Council, Councillor Mike Bell, said: “As a council we are not legally allowed to introduce a tourism tax. Any decision to do that would need to be business-led.

“We love seeing so many people enjoying our beach during the great weather. All we ask is that everyone who comes helps us to keep it looking its best for everyone. Please use the bins provided, there are loads all along the seafront, and if you find the bins are full, please take your rubbish home with you so the seagulls don’t get it.

“Our message to everyone is: leave only footprints.”

There have also been varying reactions online to the idea of the additional tax from the Weston public, with some on social media welcoming the idea in an effort to clean up the town whilst others worry it would bring a halt to the area’s tourism industry altogether.

But with local governments still having no control over the potential taxation, and it being even less likely that North Somerset Council would implement a “legal workaround” like in Liverpool and Manchester, Weston tourists won’t have to worry about the supplementary holiday payments just yet.