AUTHORITIES are taking action against the owner of a truck which has been left piled with rubbish on a Southampton street.

Residents say they are “livid” about the vehicle, which has been abandoned on Peach Road in Coxford since the middle of March.

And one resident claims bags left on it contain four tonnes of asbestos.

But more than five weeks after residents first reported the vehicle the DVLA say they are now “taking action” against the owner.

One resident, who did not want to be named, says the truck appeared on the road in March. And he says it’s not only an eyesore, but is causing a hazard for pedestrians and drivers alike.

He said: “I told the council from day one its asbestos. Every now and then at about 1am a van turns up and dumps more rubbish onto it.

“My gardener hit his head on it so now I’m livid. He came in here swearing at me - I said it’s not my fault!

“My concern is for a pushbike comes down it will ride right into it. We got up on Saturday morning and the sofa had been dumped on it.

“For the best part of six weeks we have had to pick stuff off the ground - but I’ve told the council I’m not doing it any more. The council are saying it’s not dangerous - but it’s parked near the corner of the road. If a motorbike comes round the corner too fast they could hit it.”

Another neighbour called the truck “horrendous” while another said they had reported it to both the council and the DVLA.

A spokesperson for the city council said: “If there are no health or hazard concerns re asbestos then it’ll be a case of us going through due process for vehicles reported as abandoned as there are no parking restrictions on that road.”

The DVLA said: “We are taking action against the owner. If we find that a vehicle is untaxed we issue an £80 Late Licensing Penalty to the keeper (reduced to £40 if paid within 33 days) and the keeper would need to pay the back duty in tax.

“If the untaxed vehicle is seen on the road we can also send an Out of Court Settlement letter. The amount of the settlement is based on the amount of arrears owed and whether the vehicle was declared off the road with DVLA.

“Also, as part of their day-to-day enforcement DVLA’s national wheel clamping partner, NSL, goes to different areas of the country and can clamp or impound any untaxed vehicles seen on the road.”