'This was our largest ever flytipping clean-up'

A waste firm has said the clear-up operation for a huge pile of illegally dumped rubbish in Staffordshire was the largest it had ever had to deal with.

Wilshees Waste and Recycling, based in Burton-upon-Trent, was brought in to help shift the 15m-long pile of flytipped rubbish which had blocked Watery Lane in Lichfield.

Officers at Lichfield District council said they were investigating the incident, and that evidence uncovered so far was "pointing in one direction".

They continued to appeal to members of the public to come forward with CCTV or doorbell video footage.

"Willshee's has been working with the local council for 30 years and we are proud to support the community," said the firm's managing director Dean Wilshee.

"Fly-tipping is not only an eyesore, it is a health hazard that causes considerable disruption to businesses and local residents.

"We're pleased to have been able to quickly remove the waste and ensure that the community was up and running again very quickly."

He said his firm was on-site from just after 07:00 GMT on Tuesday and had removed the waste within hours.

Mr Wilshee added that the firm had a "zero waste to landfill" policy, and that they had ensured all the flytipped rubbish was taken to its recycling facility to be separated into recyclable materials - including metals, wood, cardboard and plastics.

Phil Whitehouse, the council's cabinet member responsible of waste, said those responsible for dumping the waste needed to be held to account and said it appeared to have been a calculated operation.

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