Fly-tippers cover countryside in enormous heap of waste
Billy Burnell
Illegal dumpers have deposited a mountain of waste in a field in Oxfordshire.
The "ecological disaster developing in full view" is approximately 150m (490ft) extending and 6m (20ft) high.
The massive pile has been discovered in a open area next to the River Cherwell near Kidlington.
Parliament representative highlighted the problem in parliament, declaring it was "threatening an environmental emergency".
An environmental charity said the illegal garbage pile was formed approximately a recently by an criminal network.
"This constitutes an ecological disaster unfolding in plain sight.
"Each day that elapses elevates the risk of hazardous run-off entering the aquatic network, contaminating wildlife and threatening the health of the whole watershed.
"The Environment Agency must take action immediately, not in the distant future, which is their usual response period."
A restriction order had been put in place by the regulatory body.
It is hard to distinguish any specific items of waste as it looks to have been broken up with earth mixed in.
Part of the rubbish from the top of the mound has toppled and is now merely five feet from the stream.
The River Cherwell is a tributary of the River Thames, which indicates it runs through Oxford before meeting the Thames.
Parliament TV
The official petitioned the authorities for assistance to clear the unauthorized dump before it triggered a fire or was washed away into the river system.
Addressing MPs on Thursday, he declared: "Lawbreakers have discarded a massive amount of illegal plastic waste... weighing hundreds of tonnes, in my district on a riverside area alongside the River Cherwell.
"Water heights are rising and thermal imaging indicate that the rubbish is also heating up, increasing the danger of blaze.
"Regulatory body reported it has inadequate funding for regulation, that the projected price of disposal is larger than the whole annual funding of the regional government."
Government official commented the administration had taken over a underperforming recycling sector that had created an "growing issue of unauthorized fly-tipping".
She told parliament members the authority had served a restriction order to prevent more admission to the area.
In a statement, the organization confirmed it was examining the situation and appealed for details.
It commented: "We acknowledge the public's anger about situations like this, which is why we intervene against those culpable for illegal dumping."
A recent investigation discovered attempts to combat serious environmental offenses have been "severely neglected" despite the problem becoming larger and more complex.
Government advisors recommended an independent "thorough" examination into how "prevalent" illegal dumping is addressed.