Battered caravan dumped on the side of a busy road near Harborough posed a risk to motorists

The vehicle was ditched on the A6 by the tricky junction with Gartree and Great Bowden crossroads.

The incident was highlighted to Harborough District Council by Cllr Phil Knowles after he drove past it.

The councillor acted after watching traffic shoot past the abandoned vehicle, seriously damaged at the front, with inches to spare.

The authority was forced to hire a specialist contractor to tow the caravan away at taxpayers’ expense.

Cllr Knowles, leader of the council’s Liberal Democrat Opposition, said: “It was a menace and it had to be dealt with.

“Flytipping of any sort is hugely expensive to clean up.

“It’s unsightly and it can often be both dangerous and a health hazard.”

He warned: “It is simply unacceptable.”

A council spokesman said they had drafted in a contractor to remove the caravan earlier this week.