A POPULAR woodland in Hockley was plagued by fly tipping on what was then discovered to be privately-owned land.

As the epidemic of fly tipping around Southend and Basildon continues, frustrated resident, Suzan Banks, 67, from Hawkwell, was disheartened as she came across the "pile of toot" near the car park of Gusted Hall woods, which she describes as "beautiful".

She said: "The woods are so beautiful, so seeing this pile of toot made me damn cross and upset.

"We all have to dispose of our rubbish so it's just not on for people to come and just dump their stuff in the woods.

"It looks as if it has come from the back of a van, whether someone had paid for a removal not knowing how it had been disposed of, or not, I don't know, but now the farmer who owns the land will now have to pay to get rid of it.

"He always does a great job at maintaining it and often mows it."

A spokesperson for Rochford Council, said: "The council has been made aware of an incident of fly tipping on a farmer’s field near the approach to Gusted Hall Woods. As this is private land, the Council has notified the landowner about the issue."

Hullbridge fly tipper, Mr G Simmons, was fined £5,000 earlier this year for a huge waste dumping in Church Road, Hockley.

Fly tipping is a criminal offence. If you see anyone fly tipping, you can call report it to your local authority, or contact Essex Police on 101.