Work has begun on cleaning up a massive sea of plastic waste scattered across a farm field near Harborough

Work is starting on clearing up a massive sea of plastic waste scattered across a farm field and countryside trail on the outskirts of Market Harborough.

The landowner is working alongside Leicestershire County Council and Environment Agency to tackle the huge environmental scandal.

The Harborough Mail understands that the rubbish was spread by mistake across a vast swathe of pastureland by contractors acting on behalf of the landowner – who hasn’t been named.

The emergency multi-agency operation is set to take several days and is being launched after the alarm was raised by veteran rambler Peter Pollak.

Peter, 75, was stunned to discover the “outrageous toxic mess” on the northern edge of Market Harborough when he was out walking with his wife Fran, 70.

He immediately alerted the Harborough Mail – and we tipped off the local authorities and Harborough MP Neil O’Brien.

An enormous logistical exercise is now going ahead to sweep the vast field of dirty industrial waste – as well as cleaning up the popular Lubenham-Market Harborough footpath.

The heavily-contaminated agricultural field is bordered by Gartree Prison, the Innovation Centre and the new Wellington Place estate by the pretty Grand Union Canal.

Cllr Blake Pain, Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet member for minerals and waste planning, told the Mail: “We are working closely with the landowner, who has agreed to remove the waste spread across a field north of Harborough Road, Harborough, and has been working around the clock to ensure the site is cleared.”

He added: “Officers have visited the site today.

“They have observed that significant progress has been made and we expect the rest of the waste to be removed by the beginning of next week.”

Today Peter, of Limner Street, Farndon Fields, Market Harborough, told the Mail: “I am obviously delighted that this urgent work is being carried out to deal with such a sprawling horrible mess.

“It’s a full-scale eco-scandal.

“We were shocked when we stumbled across this horrific sight and we still are.”

The lifelong countryside campaigner insisted: “The appropriate authorities had to act quickly to tackle this ugly eyesore.

“There’s a real chance that this filthy plastic trash will burrow its way into the ground and end up in the food chain.

“It also poses a serious danger to birds, hedgehogs, foxes, badgers and other wildlife.

“The high winds and rain over the last few days have also scattered the garbage far and wide – and banked it up against our beautiful right of way.

“So I’ll be keeping a very close eye on this clean-up and I’ll be making sure that the job is done properly.”

Cllr Paul Bremner, who represents the area and is both a county and district councillor, said: “This ecological crisis blighting our treasured countryside is totally unacceptable.

“It has to be tackled urgently so I am pleased that this work is being carried out.”

Cllr Phil King, leader of Harborough District Council, agreed that the catastrophic environmental threat has “to be addressed now” before it gets even worse.