The Corporation of Hamilton has explained why it pulled up tape markers from the pavement where spectators had claimed spots for Bermuda Day festivities on Friday.

The tradition of marking sites along the Bermuda Day Parade and half-marathon routes has created littering and safety issues in recent years.

But a spokeswoman for City Hall acknowledged that marking off a space for the big day was also a time-honoured practice.

“The marking with tape has become somewhat of a cultural tradition in the lead up to Bermuda Day and we only ask that people do it responsibly and only during the week of the parade.”

In previous years, the corporation urged spectators not to use rope or other barriers to reserve a place.

In 2016, Hamilton called for restraint in the use tape and asked the public to remove temporary measures, such as chalk or small strips of tape, after the parade and races.

The spokeswoman said that this year the City had started taking up tape on May 8.

“We stopped taking it up on May 15.”

She explained that the removal was a matter of “aesthetics” and that “the tape bakes in the sun, making it harder to remove and leaving a sticky residue”.

She added: “Any permanent marking with spray paint or markers is strictly prohibited.

“In the past, we have explored the idea of identifying marked areas that families can reserve, but the logistics of this and then policing it are not viable.”