A country lane had to be shut after a large pile of rubbish was dumped down it.

More than 20 bin bags, rubble, tiles and empty water bottles were fly-tipped in Hartley Bottom Road in Hartley yesterday.

The road was completely blocked from around 8pm last night, but had been cleared by 10am this morning.

It’s not the first time a country lane in the area has been blocked by fly-tipping.

Less than two weeks ago, cardboard boxes and black sacks stretching along “five car lengths” were dumped in Three Gates Road in Longfield.

The blockage left residents facing a diversion around the lanes of more than one and half miles, according to one resident.

Last week, a large pile of asbestos was also dumped along Cotton Lane in Stone.

Along with the pile of hazardous waste, a metal bin, white goods and a plastic garden chair had been discarded.

A spokesperson for Sevenoaks District Council said: “Our environmental enforcement team are aware of this incident, and that Kent County Council (KCC) cleared the road the same day.

“We await any evidence collected by KCC that would help with our investigations and the possibility of bringing a prosecution.

“If any resident has information about this, or any other fly-tipping incident, they can contact us in confidence on ee@sevenoaks.gov.uk”.