The Telegraph & Argus visited Bradford Moor Park on Monday and captured photos of the pond, which had significantly dried up and numerous items were littered across it.
A drop in the water level has led to the exposure of objects that are now partially submerged in the pond and the algae looks to have bloomed during these extra warm summer months, with the surface almost completely covered by it.
Litter in a dried-up pond at Bradford Moor Park (Image: Telegraph & Argus)
Litter in a dried-up pond at Bradford Moor Park (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Some of the items included what looks to be a children’s toy, rubble, a football, a shoe and litter, such as plastic bottles and a Celebrations tub.
There also seemed to be black sludge at points across the pond.
Bradford Council said it has regular litter picks at the park but explained items in the pond have become visible due to the natural spring that feeds it drying up in the hot weather.
What looks to be a children’s toy in a dried-up pond at Bradford Moor Park (Image: Telegraph & Argus) A spokesperson for the local authority said: “We are removing what we can from the edge of the pond today.
“We have regular litter picks at the park but what is in the pond is not normally visible.
“The pond is fed from a natural spring but due to the recent weather, this is drying up.”
It comes amid another heatwave across the country and officials warning that England is now suffering from “nationally significant” water shortfalls despite rain in July.
The national drought group, which includes the Met Office, regulators, government, water companies and other organisations, has met as five areas of the country remain in drought, with six more in prolonged dry weather status.
Litter in a dried-up pond at Bradford Moor Park (Image: Telegraph & Argus)
Litter in a dried-up pond at Bradford Moor Park (Image: Telegraph & Argus) Yorkshire is one of those still in drought after the Environment Agency moved it to that status in June because of declining river flows and groundwater levels following one of the driest springs on record.
A hosepipe ban was imposed by Yorkshire Water from 12am on July 11 and officials have praised the public for following the restrictions.
Yorkshire Water has reported a 10 per cent reduction in domestic demand following its ban – a saving of up to 80 million litres a day or 32 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Litter in a dried-up pond at Bradford Moor Park (Image: Telegraph & Argus) But, despite unsettled weather in July with many places seeing heavy rain or showers, it was still the fifth warmest on record.
Dry weather has returned in August, with the fourth heatwave of the summer set to see temperatures climb into the 30s once more – putting extra pressure on overstretched water supplies.
England is seeing widespread environmental and agricultural impacts from the lack of water, which is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wetlands and river wildlife, and increasing wildfires, according to the national drought group.