A SENIOR councillor has pledged to take action over a field that has become a dumping ground for fly-tippers.

Darlington resident Eric Elgie, whose Eastbourne Road home backs onto the field, says he first complained to Darlington Borough Council last year about the huge amount of rubbish being dumped there.

He received assurances that council workers would look at removing the debris, which includes tyres and broken electrical items - but months later the land is still full of rubbish and has become a magnet for fly-tippers.

It is unclear who owns the affected strip of land directly behind Mr Elgie’s house, although the council does own land next to it and cabinet member Coun Nick Wallis said the authority would take action.

Mr Elgie said: “There are beds and parts of bathroom suites and all sorts of rubbish there, not only does it look awful but it’s also dangerous for dog walkers.

“The grass grows up to four foot high, but when the council eventually does come out to cut it, they break their machines on all the rubbish.”

He said he had noticed an increase in the amount of rubbish being dumped in the field since the Lawns care home was built which shielded the previously exposed field from the road.

It had attracted groups of youths in the past who would set fire to the rubbish and Mr Elgie is concerned the same thing will happen again this summer.

"That was the only time anything was done about the rubbish, because the fire brigade complained that they couldn’t get into the field.”

Coun Wallis, cabinet member for Leisure and Local Environment, said steps would now be taken to deal with the mess.

He said: “I am aware of this problem and can fully understand Mr Elgie’s frustration and that of ward councillors in the area who have also complained on Mr Elgie’s behalf.

“I will be arranging for officers to meet with Mr Elgie at the site where the problems can be addressed and resolved.”

A spokeswoman for the council added that enforcement officers had stepped up their patrols in the area and have issued fines and fixed penalty notices to clamp down on fly tippers.