FLY-TIPPERS dumped a load of rubbish in the middle of a village beauty spot.

Wooden pallets, cardboard boxes and foul smelling household waste was abandoned on Thundersley Common, in Thundersley, on Saturday night.

Councillors are now calling for residents to act as the “eyes and ears” of the authorities in a bid to “stem the growing problem of fly-tipping”.

Cedar Hall ward councillor Colin MacLean said criminal clearance firms could be to blame.

He said: “Yet again the council taxpayer is burdened with the bill for clearing rubbish which should have ended up in a skip or recycling centre.

“This latest incident is particularly puzzling because the rubbish has been left well away from the road right in the centre of the common.

“It would appear to have been more trouble for the culprits to carry it such a distance than take it legally to the recycling centre.

“These criminals are costing us, the taxpayer a fortune and we must act together to report instances of fly tipping across the borough, if you see individuals or vehicles acting suspiciously then report them to Essex Police or the council.

“Those who care passionately about our green spaces have a duty to employ bonafide rubbish clearance firms who can give an assurance that the items leaving your home will end up legally disposed of.”

Last week, the Echo told how fly-tippers dumped a mound of household waste by the side of Haven Road, on Canvey.

Residents complained to Castle Point Borough Council about the pile of waste.

However, despite officers rooting through the pile to see if there was any evidence of the person who left it behind, nothing was found.

The pile, which included a lamp, wicker baskets, an electrical cable and broken jam jars, has since been cleared.

It was left close to the island’s Oikos liquid and chemical storage firm.

Anyone with information should contact Castle Point Council via castlepoint.gov.uk/fly-tipping.