Residents have spoken of their horror after vandals threw large Biffa bins packed with rubbish into the River Crane.

Disturbing images of the bins upended into the waterway have been posted on social media.

Among those highlighting the issue was the South Twickenham Councillor and Deputy mayor Rhi Lee.

She tweeted: "It's heartbreaking the needless vandalism of this! Three bins and a bike tossed into the River Crane by Kneller Gardens. It could be catastrophic for wildlife!"

Another witness posted pictures of the vandalism, which occurred close to the basketball courts at the entrance to Kneller Gardens on Meadway Road.

Credit: Rhi Lee.

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She said she tried to contact the Council over the weekend, but was unable to reach anyone. The witness said the litter could well harm wildlife and the fauna in the river.

The Friends of River Crane charity described the incident as 'awful' and 'frustrating'.

Credit: Rhi Lee.

It is not clear who would be responsible for trying to remove the bins and black bin liners, while minimising pollution of the waterway with plastic and other rubbish.

Credit: Rhi Lee.

The borough has recently seen a spate of antisocial behaviour, drunkenness and violence associated with teens. Last week, the police announced the setting up of a dispersal zone with extra powers to order young people to leave the area following problems centred on Teddington Lock.

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Credit: Cathy Cooper.

Residents suggested the large bin belongs to the Kneller Gardens café and that it has been dumped in the river two weeks in a row.

Writing on Nextdoor, another witness said: "Some 'absolute drain on society' has pushed a large commercial bin (full of rubbish) into the River Crane in Kneller Gardens.

"This is going to pollute the entire river downstream and has the potential to harm wildlife and waterfowl. If anyone is able to escalate this directly to Richmond Council, the Environment Agency or FORCE please do - the more people that report it the more likely a swift response.

"And if anyone knows who did this please feel free to throw them in too, preferably leaving them there."

Another wrote: "Honestly I don't understand what these little oiks that are most likely intoxicated and/or high on drugs find so amusing about pushing a large commercial bin into a river?

"If this is their idea of having a laugh then they must have a very warped mentality. Poor council workers probably struggle getting this heavy bin out the river, and it is very dangerous for the wildlife that live in the river!"

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The Friends of the River Crane complained: "The vandals had a field day.

This has been reported to the council and we're hoping they will remove them soon."

People with any information about the incidents and other antisocial behaviour are being advised to contact the Police through the Safer Neighbourhood team for the area.

Richmond Borough Council despatched a team of staff to carry out a clean-up.