DISGUSTED residents of a Dovercourt road plagued by fly-tipping and overflowing rubbish bins have issued a plea for help.

People living in Victoria Street say their road is now effectively used as a dump.

Despite rubbish spilling out of bins and onto the road and pathways, more continues to be dumped.

One angry resident said: “Victoria Street is used as a local dumping ground and bin for everyone that knows about it.

“The rubbish and fly-tipping takes up a third of the land that the bins are on, spilling onto the path and road.

“The smell is offensive and the flies uncontrollable.

“The council refuse to do anything about this, believing that it’s fine for people to live next to what would be described as a dump .”

Another added: “It is disgusting.

It’s an eyesore and we shouldn’t have to put up with it.

“I don’t care who is responsible, but it must be cleared up and not allowed to happen again.”

Harwich town councillor Dave McLeod said much of the problem lay with private landowners.

He said the car park of the old Victoria pub was a particular hot-spot for fly-tipping.

The Victoria was demolished after a fire ripped through the building in 2005.

Mr McLeod said: “I would say re-generation is long overdue.

"What on earth is going on with that area?

“There is a derelict building next to the pub where rubbish is left.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to the owners of these properties to make sure it is under control.

“But action must also be taken against any one illegally dumping waste at the site.

“It is unfair on those living nearby.”

Nigel Brown, Tendring Council’s communications manager, said the authority was aware of the situation.

“It is an ongoing problem of people dumping rubbish at this site,” he said.

“We are working with the landowners – who are based out of the area – to try to come up with a long-term solution.

“In the meantime, a hit team has been tasked to go out and clean the area and the bins will also be emptied.”