MALVERN Hills District Council says it is determined to stop fly-tippers in their tracks after a road was totally blocked by discarded waste.

Single-track Dragons Lane, in Leigh Sinton, was blocked off after an assortment of bathroom, kitchen, boiler and garden waste was dumped.

Richard Hobson, who uses the lane almost every day as he cycles from his home in Malvern to work in Worcester, said it was littered with sharp broken porcelain and nails sticking out of wood.

“It was quite hazardous to horse riders, walkers, cyclists, and obviously drivers were unable to get past,” he said. “It looks like someone must have opened the back of a flat bed truck and accelerated away, dropping their full load behind them.”

Mr Hobson said a similar incident happened in Dragons Lane earlier this year, although on that occasion it was just garden waste.

“Other items have been dumped at the side of the road in the entrances to the fields,” he added. “This seems to have got much worse in the last 12 months.”

The incident was reported to MHDC on Thursday, April 7 and the waste was completely cleared by Tuesday (April 12).

Street Scene manager Gordon Morris said residents have a key role to play in the fight against fly-tipping.

“By choosing accredited waste collection companies to take away their unwanted items, they can be sure their waste is going to the right place and will not end up dumped on the side of a road,” he said. “Every waste carrier that accepts payment for the service needs to be fully registered.

“This license allows them to dispose of waste in appropriate locations and in an appropriate manner. Those not fully licensed to carry waste will not have access to these locations and so will have to get rid of the waste elsewhere by fly-tipping.”

Fly-tipping carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison or a £50,000 fine. If the waste carrier responsible cannot be caught, items dumped will be traced back to their owners and they will be liable for the clean up bill or fine.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who wishes to report a similar case, should call MHDC on 01684 862151.

A list of licensed carriers is available on the Environment Agency website, environment-agency.gov.uk.