A picturesque bridlepath has been turned into "Witham's second tip".

Litterbugs have dumped about 40 trolleys, half a dozen washing machines, rubble, settees and a motorbike in a ditch running along a pathway between Blunts Hall Road and Highfields Road.

Maureen Blaxland, who uses the walkway, said: "People need to take a little walk down there to believe it, it's disgusting. You'll be flabbergasted. It's become Witham's second dump."

A spokesman for Braintree Council said: "There's an astonishing amount of rubbish there. It's fly-tipping and we do prosecute for that.

"These people have actually driven there and walked up the path to dump the stuff, it's extraordinary."

Braintree Council's clean team, which responds to a range of environmental tasks, said it was alerted to the mess on February 5 and will remove it on Wednesday.

Witham mayor Paul Heath took a trip to the dumping ground and was shocked at what he found.

"I think Mrs Blaxland has a very valid point. There were about 40 trolleys and half a dozen washing machines. It was a real tip. We will be preparing a report," he said.

If anybody spots any dumped rubbish contact the Rapid Response Team on 01376 332327.

Published Monday, March 4, 2002