FLYTIPPERS who dumped a mountain of rubbish which blocked a vital access route to a Hampshire care home have been branded “idiotic” and “selfish” for putting lives at risk.

Shocked staff at Sundial Cottage Residential Home in Fawley said the five tonne haul of fly-tipped rubbish could have had severe consequences if an ambulance needed to get through.

The huge haul of rubbish which included bricks, wood, rubble, decking and chipping was found in Badminstone Drove, to the disgust of staff trying to get to work.

While local councillor Alexis McEvoy told the Daily Echo that the “stupidity” of the flytippers was beyond belief and urged them to come forward.

Kerry Nicholson, from Hythe, who works as a supervisor at Sundial Cottage, was appalled to discover her route to work was blocked.

The 29-year-old said: “When I saw the waste, I thought ‘what if there as an emergency at Sundial’. I was just furious so I quickly took a picture.

“I was disgusted. I have been here for ten years and I have never seen so much fly-tipping before. There was no way we could have driven through that, it covered the whole lane.

“I am just glad there was not an emergency, I dread to think what would have happened. It could have been disastrous and could have potentially cost someone their life.”

It took staff at New Forest District Council environment services team more than three hours to clear the mountain of rubbish which appeared on Friday.

Conservative councillor for Fawley, Blackfield, Langley and Calshot, Alexis McEvoy, told the Daily Echo she was “staggered” when she saw a picture of the dumped waste.

Cllr McEvoy, pictured below, said: “I haven’t had any fly-tipping problems reported to me in the area recently but the magnitude of the consequences of this irresponsible act beggars belief.

Daily Echo:

“I am absolutely staggered. Staggered at the stupidity, the selfishness and frankly the idiotic behaviour of the person who did this.

“I visited Sundial Cottage only a week ago and anyone who knows the area will know that although this is a single track road, it is never-the-less a public highway that serves several private properties as well as Sundial Cottage.

“I sincerely hope somebody with a conscience will help the appropriate authorities identify the culprit.”

Penalties for fly-tipping can be severe with those found guilty at magistrates court faced with a maximum fine of £50,000 and 12 months imprisonment.

Those convicted for illegal deposit of waste at crown court could face a maximum of five years’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine.

A spokesperson from New Forest District Council confirmed that an investigation into the fly-tipping found no evidence of who was responsible and no further action can be taken.