'This is an absolutely disgusting mess' - fly-tippers leave rubbish at a popular beauty spot near Lubenham

The offenders have tipped the household waste just feet away from a spinney by the old Market Harborough-Lubenham railway line.

The culprits have stacked up used paint tins, a worn car tyre and Volkswagen grille along with lager cans, jagged beer bottles and other rubbish.

The mini-tip has been created within 100 yards of the River Welland as it snakes its way from Lubenham to Harborough.

It poses a threat to dog walkers and runners enjoying the beautiful meadow as well as travellers’ ponies and other bird and wildlife.

The incident has been slammed by Cllr Paul Bremner, a Harborough district councillor for Lubenham and county councillor for Market Harborough West and Foxton.

Cllr Bremner said: “This is an absolutely disgusting mess – a blot on our stunning local landscape.

“It sounds as if it’s been there for weeks and the sooner it’s removed the better.

“Flytipping is a dangerous menace and it’s totally inexcusable.”

The Conservative urged people who spotted flytipping to alert their local council immediately.

“This is a serious crime against the environment and our lovely countryside around Harborough and Lubenham.

“The offenders must be caught and dealt with – and they’ve got to be stopped from doing it again.”

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien said: “This is something local councils have been taking action on over recent months, including fines for those found guilty of flytipping.”

He added: “At a national level, I want to see the maximum fines increased to show the people responsible that flytipping doesn’t pay.

“They have to be punished and deterred from this sort of disgraceful behaviour.

“I’d also encourage people to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the council.”

The garbage has been dumped on private land just over the Harborough council boundary on Daventry District Council’s patch.

A Daventry council spokesman said: “Now this has been brought to our attention we will investigate with a view to getting the landowner to arrange removal.

“Flytipping is totally unacceptable and a terrible blight on our beautiful district.”

He stressed: “We would encourage anyone who sees flytipping to report it to us as soon as possible so we can take action straight away.”