A MP has criticised the "millions" of plastic bottles left behind after the London Marathon amid claims they were "dozens deep along the streets".

Pauline Latham said it was "wrong" and a "waste of resources" that so many water bottles had been cast aside during the flagship race in the capital.

MPs who ran the marathon, which starts in Greenwich and makes its way through Woolwich, Charlton and New Bermondsey before reaching central London, said organisers had trialled plastic cups for runners for the first time this year, adding that bottles were far better for those in the race.

Mid Derbyshire MP Ms Latham, referencing a point made by Labour's Mary Creagh, said: "Did she notice the plastic bottles after the London Marathon? They were dozens deep along the streets.

"Now that is wrong. We need to keep people like that hydrated, but actually using single use plastics is such a waste of resources and there should be better ways."

SNP MP David Linden (Glasgow East) then intervened, saying: "I was one of the MPs that took part in the London Marathon.

"In slight defence of the marathon organisers, they did actually trial for the first time this year paper cups along the route as well, to try to reduce plastics.

"So I think she's absolutely right to put that on record, but just in slight defence of the London Marathon I think they are probably quite mindful of that and that's why they had quite an innovative time this year."

Ms Latham replied: "I thank him for that point but there were millions of them on the streets, and that is a total waste of resources for one quick glug, and then they were thrown away."

Conservative backbencher Chris Green (Bolton West) said he had also run the marathon, adding: "Having a bottle was far better than having a cup because when you're jogging along, you're going to bounce a lot of the liquid out of the bottle.

"Wouldn't a really important innovation be if the top and the body of the bottle were both made of the same plastic? That would make recycling easier."

Ms Latham said: "That would make recycling much easier and I'm sure if we have the machines that will take bottles in the future, we'll get lots of entrepreneurial young people going and getting them and getting money back."