FLYTIPPERS dumped a pile of garden waste at crematorium gates, blocking visitors from entering to pay their respects to their loved ones.

Over the weekend, passers-by spotted a huge pile of wood, leaves and branches left in the middle of the road in Church Road, Bowers Gifford, blocking the gated entrance to the Basildon and District Crematorium and Cemetery.

Basildon Council officers later came to clear the rubbish but more debris, including cardboard, plastic and remnants of a table, was left further down the road yesterday morning.

Disgruntled resident Karen Watts, who lives in Bowers Gifford, reported the flytipping to the council.

She said: “There was a great big pile of wood right at one of the entrances, so much that you couldn’t even get past.

“It’s disgusting that they have dumped it there but it doesn’t really matter where it is.

“Basildon Council have got to do something about it, they can’t just keep letting people get away with it.

“Somehow they have got to find out who it is who is doing this.

“I think they should put cameras up.

“The amount of money it costs to clear the flytipping, you could have paid off the cost of the cameras by now.”

Kevin Blake, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said: “It’s bad enough flytipping at any time as it costs the council a lot of money but people are seeing their loved ones for any reason, especially on a bank holiday weekend when a lot of people have more time off.

“It’s so disrespectful.

“The people that do this sort of thing just don’t give a monkeys about anyone. It’s shocking.”

He warned flytippers that they will be caught.

He said: “We will prosecute, there is no mayBE about it. We will continue to fine people and monitor where it happens.

“It’s not something the council takes lightly because it is one of our biggest expenditures.”

To report dumped rubbish and street defects, visit basildon.gov.uk/article/4651/Street-Scene-Reporting