'Disgusting' fly-tipping found on village path

A large pile of waste including broken roof tiles and a sofa was dumped on a village bridleway.

The fly-tipping was discovered by local resident Kitty Fleming in Pilton, Somerset, while she was walking her dog on Tuesday morning.

She reported the rubbish, left between Copse Lane and Mount Pleasant, to the council, which has said it is investigating.

Fleming said: "It's pretty disgusting. The bridleway gets used by a lot by dog walkers and horse riders, and I was worried about them."

Somerset Council said fly-tipping is a "significant issue" in the county, causing "both environmental damage and inconvenience to local businesses, residents and tourists".

It said it the waste was collected by its staff on Thursday.

In February, the council told BBC Radio Somerset it had received 3,000 reports of fly-tipping in 2025.

A spokesperson for the council said: "Illegal dumping of waste not only spoils the countryside but also poses health risks and increases the financial burden on local authorities, who must spend considerable resources on clean up and enforcement.

"The persistent nature of fly tipping highlights the need for greater public awareness and stronger measures to deter offenders."

The council has said it wants anyone who witnesses fly-tipping to report the incidents via its website.

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