FLY tippers continue to spoil parts of one of Tynedale’s most picturesque beauty spots.

The usually tranquil Slaley Forest has long been used as a dumping ground for many people illegally disposing of their rubbish, often ruining the beautiful scenery for the numerous people who use the area for walking or cycling on a daily basis.

Images captured last week by mountain biker Andrew Smith thrust the problem back into the local community’s focus, the worst Mr Price case he claimed he has come across in 25 years of mountain biking in Northumbertland.

Mr Smith was horrified with the state someone had left the forest in, and he immediately contacted the Forestry Commission and Northumberland County Council to inform them of the mess left.

He said: “When I came up the hill, I thought there was a vehicle parked in the middle of the track but. as I got closer, I realised it was just rubbish piled everywhere.

“I think it is despicable really because it’s not as if it was just one van loads. There was loads of it so someone must have come back time and again to unload it all.”

While members of the local community were dismayed with the latest report, they said it was not a new problem for the Slaley parish.

Recently, similar incidents occurred in the Healey parish inbetween Minsteracres and Kiln Pit Hill.

The clerk for Slaley Parish Council, Pat Wilson, said: “People do it all over the place here and there’s always evidence of fly tipping in the forest, on Lead Road and Espershields.

“Slaley has a litter pick once a year and we find so much rubbish dumped around the village even in such a short space of time.

“The countryside is a free-for-all for fly tippers it would seem. It has always been bad in Slaley parish, especially in Slaley Forest if the bollards are up and they can get through easily enough.”

A spokesperson for Northumberland County Council said it was aware of the crime and had been in contact with the landowner, who was making arrangements to clear up the waste.

She said: “Fly tipping is a serious environmental crime and the council takes a zero tolerance approach towards perpetrators, prosecuting offenders wherever possible to make sure they pay for their crimes.

“We take a proactive approach in an attempt to deter fly tipping including monitoring hotspots, working with landowners and seeking evidence of who is responsible for tips.”