A RSPB nature reserve in Hoo has been forced to close its car park due to flytipping.

Cliffe Pools car park will be closed until further notice whilst the Environment Agency and Medway Council carry out an investigation after a mountain of rubbish, including broken beds and rubble, was dumped outside the reserve’s main gates.

Will Tofts, RSPB warden for the North Kent Marshes, said the rubbish must have appeared overnight, between 10pm and 4am this morning.

He said: “It’s a bit disappointing. It’s going to take a major clear up operation. There’s household waste, broken beds, garden materials and god only knows what’s in the middle.

“It may be closed for up to a week.

“We’ve also had asbestos flytipping on Pickles Way twice in the last two weeks.”

But Mr Tofts said he didn’t think the closure would affect visitor numbers as most of the regular guests are local dog walkers.