A DETERMINED litterpicker has told of the moment he confronted a brazen fly tipper after catching her red handed.

Chris Piggott, of Colchester, was litter picking in Drury Road earlier this week when he came across a mountain of dumped items.

Everything from an ironing board and a wardrobe to stacks of boarding had been left outside Budgens supermarket.

Mr Piggott said he then saw the perpetrator returning to the scene to add to the stack of waste.

“I saw a young lady come out – she was only between 20 to 30 years old – and brazenly dump it in broad daylight,” said Mr Piggott.

Gazette: Eyesore - the fly tipped rubbish outside Budgens in ColchesterEyesore - the fly tipped rubbish outside Budgens in Colchester (Image: Chris Piggott)

“There was a huge heap of fly tipped rubbish, stuff I just can’t stand.

“I said: ‘I hope you are not going to leave that there’. She then scarpered and ran away.”

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“I couldn’t believe it, to be honest. I was a little bit nervous as you never know how someone is going to react but I felt I had to say something."

Mr Piggott said he first became aware of the issue near Budgens after spotting “dozens and dozens” of litter bags and furniture ditched there a fortnight ago.

Gazette: Campaign - Chris Piggott was litter picking when he spotted the incidentCampaign - Chris Piggott was litter picking when he spotted the incident (Image: Chris Piggott)

The rubbish has now been collected by Colchester Council whose staff are said to be aware of the issue.

The campaigning resident added: “If no one does anything about it, especially when you can see it red handed, then nothing will ever be done.

“I am hoping with my description of the woman I have provided to the council there will be some progress out of it and the problem is nipped in the bud.”

Gazette: Mess - the waste has since been cleared upMess - the waste has since been cleared up (Image: Chris Piggott)

The incident comes after Colchester Council’s waste boss pledged to “step up a gear” in their fight against littering and flytipping across the city.

Martin Goss said the authority will enlist the help of Waste Investigations Support and Enforcement Services in the hopes of dishing out fines to those flouting the rules.

Figures published last month showed there have been 1,794 incidents of fly-tipping so far in Colchester in 2022/23.

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