Drivers have had to take matters into their own hands after a mound of rubbish appeared.

The fly-tipped waste was dumped along New Cut, just off Stockett Lane in East Farleigh, Maidstone.

It is the second mound of rubbish to be found in the area within the last two weeks.

Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) launched an investigation after a large amount of building waste was fly-tipped in Butt Green Lane, Linton.

Several pallets, polystyrene, guttering and tarpaulin, as well as a vacuum cleaner and sink were among the discarded items.

Butt Green Lane is 3.3 miles – approximately a 10 minute drive – from the new pile that has been discovered.

Resident Martin Deacon regularly uses the road to cycle through and says he came across the rubbish at around 12.16pm last Thursday (March 14).

“I was shocked, angry, disappointed and disgusted by it,” he said.

“They regularly do it in that area – especially Loose, Tovil and East Farleigh.

“It’s causing the road to be blocked with traffic.

“A driver was struggling to get past the rubbish as it was a tight squeeze. She probably didn't want to kick anything in case it was hazardous.

“The lady was also frightened of getting a puncture, so I helped her as she passed it.”

It is understood that the fly-tipping has been reported to the council.

Two days later, Martin noted that someone had put tape around it which said “environmental crime scene – do not enter”.

He also posted a warning for other drivers in the area on a local Facebook group.

Several people expressed the same reaction to the discovery.

One person said: “How awful that people seem to think this is okay to dump.”

“People like this make me sick,” another added.

The maximum fine for fly-tipping recently increased from £400 to £1,000.

Local authorities can now choose to pursue offenders through the courts rather than issue a Fixed Penalty Notice.

As a result, there will be no maximum on the size of the fine imposed and the offender could also be jailed.

MBC has been contacted for a comment.