Campaigners have been left overjoyed after a trailer of rubbish was towed away by the council.

The eyesore sat on London Road in Stone for more than four months before it was removed.

It prompted concerns about structural damage to the pavement and road, and even had fires set alight underneath it.

Cllr Jonathon Hawkes (Lab), who represents Stone, described the situation as "completely unacceptable" in a Facebook post earlier this month.

Commenting shortly after its removal, he said: "This is something that has been a cause of frustration for a long time and it has taken the council far too long to get it sorted.

"That it’s finally gone is credit in no small part to the voices of local residents and the work of community champions, and is brilliant news for everyone in Stone."

Council leader Cllr Jeremy Kite (Con), added: "I'm happy to confirm that Dartford council's contractors removed the trailer and waste today (Wednesday, January 30).

"I don't disagree for a moment that it took far too long to remove and I regret that it's been an eyesore on London Road.

"Cllrs John Burrell, Lucy Canham and Jonathon Hawkes have been right to pressure for it's removal.

"It was a very specialised job that presented some big challenges, and I am relieved and pleased that it has now been removed.

"Speaking personally, the penalties associated with commercial-scale flytipping have not kept pace with the level and seriousness of these offences.

"Dartford council does investigate a greater proportion of incidents than many councils, and pursues penalties and court action when it can.

"It seems to me that these sort of offences merit jail time, loss of driving licences and seizure of associated vehicles more often."

Labour Party candidates for Stone Castle Mandy Garford, Rachael Martin-Smith and Catherine Stafford were instrumental in campaigning for the trailer's removal.

Rachael said: "We are pleased that the trailer has finally gone but it is unacceptable that residents had to put up with this for so long.

"Fly-tipping is a real problem in this area, but this was on a scale we haven’t seen before."