HORRIFIED residents have hit out at fly tippers who dumped a huge trail of rubbish, including a garden shed, children’s toys and bin bags of household refuse in a country lane.

Councillors are now hoping investigators can find some link to who dumped it among the rubbish and have warned those responsible will go to court.

The 40 foot long trail of rubbish was discovered by a cyclist on Sunday, March 22 on Long Lane near Picton, between Northallerton and Yarm.

It includes numerous black bin bags of refuse, plus what looks like a dismantled shed, a mini trampoline, and children’s toys including pushchairs and cars.

The stunned cyclist said: “Out for a ride this afternoon but left speechless by this unbelievable act of thoughtlessness it made me sad and angry in equal measure.”

Another resident said: “It’s disgusting, it makes me so angry, would love to know where these people live and dump it on their front door.”

Hambleton District councillor Stephen Watson said the authority would be investigating to see if it could find out where the rubbish came from and who dumped it.

He added: “It is absolutely disgraceful at the best of times that this rubbish should be dumped and in the current situation when everyone is not supposed to be going out and to be staying indoors, it is appalling.

“We will try and move it as soon as we possibly can but at the current time it is difficult.

“Obviously we will look into this, the rubbish can be examined for any indication of where it has come from and who it belongs to to try and find out who could have put it there.

“We would ask anyone who recognises it to get in touch. It may have been in their neighbours’ garden, or their garden.

“Someone may have employed people to move the rubbish and they have simply dumped it, it could be a house clearance.

“Licences are needed to move large amounts of waste.

“We would take court action if we can.”

There is concern this could become a bigger problem after North Yorkshire County Council closed waste recycling tips. Anyone with information can report it to www.hambleton.gov.uk.