A PILE of rubble, a filthy old mattress and a mountain of carpet cuttings line the road to Graeme Corner's farm.

Mr Corner owns a farm on Ricknall Lane at Preston-le-Skerne, near Newton Aycliffe, where dumped rubbish has become an all-too-familiar scene.

The 53-year-old said the area has been blighted by fly-tipping since March when he first reported it to the local authority.

Mr Corner was told that he would have to move it and foot the bill as the waste had been left on private land – a fact he disputes as the track used to be a highway.

He said: "We do use this road for access to get to the field but we can't do that anymore.

"But it's just so unsightly and the fact that it has been here for so long encourages other fly-tippers to come and tip on top of the original amount that was there in the first place."

Mr Corner has said he would take ownership of the land and clear it away or if it is removed he will put up a fence to prevent it reoccurring.