"DISGUSTING and selfish" flytippers have taken it too far after a sofa and a fridge were dumped in a cemetery in Woolston.

Locals have expressed their outrage at the waste, which was left at St Mary's Extra Cemetery, on Portsmouth Road just yards away from where loved ones have been buried.

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Daily Echo her husband was walking the dog in the grounds when they saw the eyesore.

In the past, she said, microwaves and other garden furniture had been discarded at the site, as well as people using Southampton City Council bins, which are designed for garden waste generated at the cemetery.

She added: "In the past I have regularly picked up litter and old floral tributes that have been dumped about the cemetery.

"We are all very upset and disgusted by these mindless acts who are showing no respect for our loved ones.

"I have lived here for 72-years and have many relatives buried here.

"It's very sad to see what is now happening in our society."

In May, Hampshire County Council launched a new campaign to make residents aware that if they use an unregistered waste carrier, and their rubbish ends up dumped, they themselves – as well as the tippers – could face prosecution.

But the worrying trend has continued, with this latest incident just one in a growing number of incidents.

The city council said that fly-tipping "is not only illegal, but also a very antisocial act".

A spokesperson added: "It is a great shame that some individuals are willing to undertake this action rather than to dispose of unwanted items properly at the Household Waste and Recycling Centre in Millbrook or to use the council’s bulky item collection service..

"Unfortunately certain areas in the city are hotspots for the illegal dumping of rubbish.

"The cemeteries team look after our five cemeteries in conjunction with the waste team.

"We do all we can to monitor these areas and to clean up fly-tipping incidents as soon as we are made of aware of a problem.

"Residents can report fly tipping on the council’s website."

Cllr James Baillie, ward representative for Sholing, said he had reported the incident to the council and hopes it will get cleaned up "as a priority".

He added: "It's disgusting people fly-tip in a place where people go to grieve for loved ones.

"A cemetery is a special place where people go in various difficult times and for this to be spoiled by selfish people is completely wrong."