THOSE responsible for dumping waste at a Ridgeway beauty spot should hang their heads in shame, the council has said.

West Swindon woman Angela Johns, 56, was walking her dog along the Ridgeway west of Barbury Castle when she stumbled across the flytipped haul.

“I was shocked. Absolutely shocked and disgusted,” she said. “I was fuming. Who on earth would have had the nerve to do it I don’t know.

“It’s next to a beauty spot. There’s white wool and foam among the waste. What if the animals had got in there? There are horses and sheep around there and it’s right at the entrance of the bridleway.”

Swindon Borough Council struck an aggressive tone. Coun Maureen Penny, the council's cabinet member for highways and the environment, said: “This flytipping on beautiful countryside on the edge of the Borough is nothing short of disgraceful and the perpetrators should hang their heads in shame.

“They can rest assured, however, that we will be doing all we can to trace and prosecute them.

“In the meantime, our team will remove the waste as soon as possible.

"The public can play an important role in the fight against flytippers by being our eyes and ears and reporting any incidents they spot, particularly in remote rural areas.

"People can report fly-tipping incidents via: www.swindon.gov.uk/flytipping”

Gary Sumner, ward councillor for Chiseldon, condemned those responsible for dumping the waste: “Clearly in this case it is builders waste and they know what they are doing.

“If you are employing builders please ask how the waste will be disposed and I would ask that residents driving through the area note if they see vans parked.

“If we are able to identify a householder or builder then we use the full legal process to bring a prosecution.

“The AONB is a national asset and we do have facilities for residents and contractors for safe, legal disposal.”

Did you see who dumped this waste? Call the newsdesk on 01793 501806.