TREES and bushes have been cut down to reduce illegal dumping at a lay-by at Levington.Flytippers have been regularly using the large parking area off the old A45 Felixstowe Road, where cars are hidden from the old dual carriageway by a line of trees.

TREES and bushes have been cut down to reduce illegal dumping at a lay-by at Levington.

Flytippers have been regularly using the large parking area off the old A45 Felixstowe Road, where cars are hidden from the old dual carriageway by a line of trees.

Council officials were called to clean-up the lay-by - and took away a truckload of rubbish.

Suffolk County Council has now had the trees and bushes cut back so the flytippers will no longer be hidden from view while illegally leaving their rubbish.

Suffolk Coastal cabinet member Andrew Nunn said: “There is always a cost associated with flytipping, whether it be indirectly to local residents through their council tax to have it cleared away, to the flytippers when they get caught and fined, or to the environment which is visually and sometimes actually polluted.

“The county's cutback at the lay-by revealed a real horror show - one lorry tyre, seven car tyres, three large wooden armchairs, a car door, a car bumper, a car battery, a king-sized bedstead and a metal dustbin as well as sack loads of general litter.

“There really is no excuse for this kind of dumping - there are many ways to safely and legally dispose of such items. If anyone sees any such activities I would ask them to report it to us so we can try and catch the people concerned.”

The council has also removed the lay-by's litter bins because they several times been set alight.

Mr Nunn said: “All reports of flytipping will be investigated and we will take enforcement action against anyone found responsible. This could involve culprits being taken to court and fined up to, and in some cases, more than £50,000 or given up to six months imprisonment.”

Suffolk Coastal residents can get advice on disposing of rubbish safely and legally on 01394 444000 - or use the number to report any incidents of flytipping or damage to litter or dog bins.