Fly-tippers bury open land in enormous heap of rubbish
Local resident
Fly-tippers have dumped a mountain of waste in a field in Oxfordshire.
The "environmental catastrophe unfolding in public view" is approximately 150m (490ft) long and 6m (20ft) tall.
The enormous mound has been discovered in a plot of land adjacent to the River Cherwell in the vicinity of Kidlington.
A local MP highlighted the issue in parliament, declaring it was "posing risk of an environmental emergency".
Conservation group said the unlawful rubbish dump was formed around a recently by an criminal network.
"This is an environmental crisis unfolding in full view.
"Daily that passes increases the threat of hazardous drainage reaching the river system, contaminating wildlife and putting at risk the wellbeing of the whole river basin.
"The Environment Agency must respond immediately, not in extended periods, which is their usual reaction time."
A restriction order had been implemented by the Environment Agency.
It is difficult to distinguish any individual items of rubbish as it seems to have been pulverized with earth mixed in.
Some of the waste from the peak of the mound has toppled and is now just five feet from the stream.
The River Cherwell is a feeder stream of the River Thames, which means it travels through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Official recording
The MP petitioned the administration for help to remove the illegal tip before it caused a blaze or was swept into the river system.
Speaking to elected representatives on Thursday, he declared: "Criminals have deposited a massive amount of unlawful synthetic materials... totaling substantial weight, in my constituency on a floodplain alongside the River Cherwell.
"Water heights are growing and heatmaps indicate that the rubbish is also heating up, raising the risk of blaze.
"Regulatory body stated it has restricted funding for regulation, that the projected price of removal is higher than the complete twelve-month funding of the local district council."
Environment minister commented the government had inherited a failing waste industry that had created an "growing issue of illegal waste disposal".
She advised parliament members the authority had implemented a access ban to prevent additional admission to the location.
In a statement, the agency stated it was investigating the incident and appealed for evidence.
It commented: "We acknowledge the community's anger about situations like this, which is why we intervene against those culpable for environmental offenses."
A recent investigation determined attempts to combat major illegal dumping have been "critically under-prioritised" despite the situation becoming larger and more complex.
A parliamentary committee recommended an separate "comprehensive" investigation into how "endemic" waste crime is dealt with.
