A "MONSTEROUS" pile of flytipping even including an old Christmas tree has been left to fester for months, it has been claimed.

David Smith has slammed residents, councillors and Tendring Council for the state of streets around Harwich, Dovercourt and Parkeston after encountering used nappies, cat-litter and a huge pile of flytipping while out walking his dog.

"Over the weekend I had a pleasant walk with my dog along The Hangings from Parkeston to Dovercourt.

"The walk ended at Dovercourt Station and, to my horror, I looked across the road to see some of the worse flytipping I have ever seen.

"On the waste ground at the end of Victoria Street among the Tendring Council signs forbidding flytipping were beds, old sofas, broken furniture, old bikes and loads of black bags.

"There was even a sad looking Christmas tree which shows how long the rubbish has been there."

Mr Smith, of Manor Road in Dovercourt, has called for more to be done to prevent flytipping at the site, which is private land.

"Quite rightly we should blame the filthy disgusting individuals who think it is OK to dump their rubbish wherever they please but the council should also have a duty to regularly clean-up, some of this stuff has obviously been there for months.

"What must visitors think when they get off the train, I don't know.

"It doesn't end there though - next to this rubbish dump is the site of the demolished Victoria pub which is very overgrown and surrounded by boards and next to it is a derelict house which looks awful.

"What an advert for sunny Dovercourt Bay."

Mr Smith said other roads are also plagued with rubbish problems.

"Our town is blighted by all sorts of litter - my own street being one of the worst.

"I have to walk around used cat litter, used nappies, used sanitary items as well as a good assortment of dog poo.

"It is disgusting and I am afraid the blame lies with the townspeople - if you drop it-pick it up and bin it."

Michael Talbot, Tendring Council's cabinet member for environment, said he would like to see CCTV cameras put up at flytipping hotspots to catch those responsible.

"Flytipping whether its on public land or private land is a nuisance to everybody," he said

"Most people doing this think they will get a slap on the wrist - it's a criminal offence.

"I don't think we should just sit back, we have got to see what we can do."