Hundreds of empty bottles that were clogging up a Sainsbury's car park in Ipswich have been cleared up.

Despite signs asking people to not leave bottles at the Felixstowe Road Warren Heath store, hundreds, if not thousands, of bottles were left in the car park taking up, at least four parking bays. 

The sight caused outrage between community leaders and local residents with litter campaigner Jason Alexander calling it "unbelievable".

Two days after this newspaper reported on the bottles, the area has been cleared up. 

Ipswich Star: Sainsbury's car park is now empty of bottlesSainsbury's car park is now empty of bottles (Image: Newsquest)

A local resident described the sight as "disgraceful" on social media, saying she "almost crashed the car" when she drove past the superstore. 

People were being asked to take their bottles to the Waitrose store in James Bennett Avenue, which is just a three-minute drive away from the Sainsbury's store.  

The bottles have since been removed leaving the car park bays free to use once again. 

Mr Alexander welcomed the news of the bottles being cleared. 

Ipswich Star: Hundreds of bottles were left in the car parkHundreds of bottles were left in the car park (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "It’s great to hear the bottles have been cleared. Let’s hope everyone has got the message now that it’s no longer a bottle bank. 

"If you’re unsure where your closest bottle bank is just visit Ipswich Borough Council's website to see an up-to-date map."

Ed Thompson, East Suffolk councillor for Martlesham and Purdis Farm, which covers the Warren Heath store, said that the littering of bottles was "not on". 

He said the sight was "horrible, really horrible" as he questioned why people would continue to dump bottles in the car park.

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said on Tuesday that work was being carried out to clear the area and the firm apologised for any inconvenience caused to customers.