WELCOME to the fly-tipping capital of Colchester.

A spate of recent incidents in Holt Drive, off Mersea Road, has led chiefs at Colchester Council to target the area with free collection of bulky goods.

The winding road includes a park and wooded areas which are particular hotspots.

Tim Young, the councillor responsible for street services, said dumping of rubbish in Holt Drive was becoming a problem.

He said: “The information from officers is that it’s becoming a top place for people to fly-tip.

“There are street wardens, but I think people see it as an out-of-the-way place where people can dump stuff and not be found out.

“I know there have been five incidents recently, and for a small area that’s quite a lot.”

Some residents agreed there is a problem.

Pensioner Dennis King said: “In the last year it has got worse. You have some bikes dumped and all sorts.

“There is no reason for fly-tipping. Anything we have got we take it to the tip, or we get the council to move it.”

Another resident, who did not wish to be named, said a park off the road was a prime target.

He said: “Sometimes you just see vans drive away. You think nothing of it, but then there’s lots of rubbish.

“I can’t fault the council – it will come and clear it up.”

He added youths drinking late at night were also a problem.

He said: “Fly-tipping is the least of the things on this patch, I’ve got to be honest.”

Many other residents said they were not aware of any problem with rubbish.

Gavin Jordan, who has lived in Holt Drive for six years, said: “It’s quite a nice area.”

However, ward councillor Michael Lilley insisted Holt Drive was one of the worst hotspots for fly-tipping in the borough.

He said: “It is mostly sofas and stuff like that.

“I’ve been working with the street wardens and they’ve cleared quite a lot away in the last few months.”

The free rubbish collection in Holt Drive will not cost any extra because it is part of Colchester Council’s existing waste collection contract, according to Town Hall bosses.

In 2007/08, Colchester Council’s street services team were called to 684 reports of fly-tipping.

Clearing the rubbish up cost an estimated £26,335.

Colchester Council spent £10,000 on CCTV equipment a year ago in a bid to catch fly-tippers in the act.