A RESIDENTS’ group has warned the A13 could go up in flames if flytipping on a nearby path isn’t tackled.

A large amount of rubbish has been dumped along a footpath linking Church Road and London Road, Bowers Gifford.

The path links streets either side of the A13 and runs directly under the busy trunk road.

Rose Griffin, chairman of the Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet Residents’ Association, warned persistent dumping of waste was dangerous and could have severe consequences.

She said: “It has been an ongoing problem in Church Road.

“Last year, we had some asbestos dumped in that pathway, which the council did remove quite quickly.

“It has been a problem all down Church Road. We did a litter pick last month, but then there were leaflets dropped in the area just a few days later.

“The pathway has been a problem. What we really want is bollards in Church Road. If anybody puts flammable rubbish there, the whole A13 could go up.”

Mrs Griffin said gas cylinders had previously been dumped along the path.

A Basildon Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the flytipping issue at Bowers Gifford, but cannot comment on individual cases.

“However, the public can rest assured we take flytipping very seriously and act whenever complaints are made.”

The rubbish dumped in the pathway this week included household waste and garden furniture.

Flytipping in Bowers Gifford has long been a problem, judging by the number of incidents reported by residents on the FixMyStreet website.

Recent incidents posted online include rubbish in a cemetery layby in Church Road in January.

The same month, another resident reported builders’ rubble and household rubbish left by the side of Church Road for more than two weeks.

After a spate of flytipping incidents a year ago, neighbourhood police urged residents to make a note of registration plates of any vehicles seen dumping rubbish in the area.