REGULAR crackdowns on persistent flytippers in Suffolk have always been unveiled with great expectations.However crate expectations might have been more appropriate in this case, which culminated in workers from Babergh District Council having to remove this huge discarded box.

REGULAR crackdowns on persistent flytippers in Suffolk have always been unveiled with great expectations.

However crate expectations might have been more appropriate in this case, which culminated in workers from Babergh District Council having to remove this huge discarded box.

The crate, measuring approximately seven foot by five foot, was discarded on a track in Wherstead.

Evening Star photographer Jerry Turner, who spotted the box, described it as the biggest single item he had ever seen dumped at the roadside.

He discovered the redundant wooden container on Wednesday on the path leading to the Anglian Water premises opposite The Street.

However, it turned out it was not the first time Babergh's removal men have had to collect bizarre items from the side of the road and the council claimed things are now so bad that it has to deal with flytipping on a daily basis.

Joanna Hart, technical officer of waste for the council, said: “In the last year we have had 342 separate incidents of fly tipping in region.

“This has cost us £17,000 to remove and dispose of. We have one officer who is dedicated to clearing the streets and he is given his own vehicle to do so.

“However, often there is a lot in volume or size and we have to get other vehicles in to help. One time we had to get a mini digger out because we had so much to clear.”

Among the discarded objects have been a collection of Readers' Digest books along with free steak knives, a Victorian bed pan, a water tank, and a cuddly cat which people had mistaken for a dead dog

Ms Hart said the problems largely come from cowboy businesses who claim they will clear people's rubbish away.

She said: “People should always check to see if the rubbish collector is licensed and is carrying a Waste Transfer Note.

“If they are in doubt they should call the Environment Agency hotline on 08708 506506.

“Finally if they do see any fly tipping in the region they should contact the council, with as much detail as they can get on the vehicle, on 01473 825890.”

WEBLINK: www.babergh-south-suffolk.gov.uk