WHEN farmer Tony Wilson tried to reach his fields he found a whole heap of trouble - two heaps in fact.

For in the short time it took him to have lunch some rogue contractors dumped two 20- tonne lorry loads of soil across his farm track.

"I couldn't believe it, I had come up the track only a short time before but there was no way I could get back down," said Mr Wilson.

It is one, perhaps extreme, example of the problem many farmers are facing with illegal fly tipping.

But an NFU survey of 100 members found another farmer who woke up to discover eight tonnes of tyres dumped in a field.

Mr Wilson farms at Old Wingate Farm, Wheatley Hill, and says the problem has definitely got worse since the introduction of the landfill tax.

To add insult to injury the farmer usually has to pay to have the illegally dumped waste removed.

There are two rates of landfill tax charged - £12 per tonne for active waste and £2 a tonne for inactive waste.

But disreputable contractors and firms, as well as individuals, often dump waste illegally to avoid the tax.

Mr Wilson, a prominent member of the North Riding and Durham County NFU and a delegate to the national council, believes the tax should be scrapped.

"I just cannot understand why the government does not want waste to be put in holes in the ground," he said.

"The landfill tax should be scrapped. I don't know exactly what the rates are but it must be costing a lot more to collect the waste that is dumped."

When he found the soil blocking his track he contacted the local council who said they would remove it, but it could take a week.

"I said you provide a lorry now and I will load it for you and that is what happened," said Mr Wilson.

He has had problems with fly tipping for ten to 15 years, ever since the Old Wingate North landfill site next to the entrance to his farm was filled and closed.

That site is still fenced off and there are signs warning that CCTV is operating but the fly tipping continues.

Builders' rubble, pallets, tyres and engine parts are among the usual finds but household rubbish such as mattresses and garden refuse are also often dumped.

Durham county council had a clear out a fortnight ago but last week several tyres and pallets were again in a field where Mr Wilson was ploughing.

The fence around the field also has a prominent sign warning that CCTV cameras are working.

Mr Wilson gets particularly frustrated with the household rubbish and garden refuse because the council will collect such items free of charge.

He is used to the public venturing on the farm as there are three miles of footpaths and a nature reserve.

"Some days there may be 100 people or more walking the paths and most are no problem at all but we do get kids throwing empty pop bottles and crisp bags in the fields.

"We have to check the fields before we put the livestock in."

Nationally the NFU is, at the very least, wanting Landfill Tax Scheme Credits available to help farmers with the cost of removing fly-tipped material.

It also wants the fees for disposal at properly licensed landfill sites to be waived.

The tax was introduced in 1996 and was designed to encourage less waste and more re-cycling.

A fly-tipping stakeholders' forum - made up of interested parties - will reconvene in the autumn to re-assess the scale of the problem and try to find solutions.

Under the Environment Protection Act of 1999 there are severe penalties for fly-tipping with unlimited fines and up to five years in prison - however, prosecutions are relatively rare.