EAST Hampshire District Council’s (EHDC) environmental team was forced into action on Friday after construction waste was dumped in the lay-by off the Chawton roundabout on the A31.

Thought to have been dumped last Tuesday night, the shocking waste sparked dozens of irate calls to the district council from passing motorists.

And because it was in a public place, on the road to Four Marks, and a risk to lay-by users, responsibility fell on EHDC to clear it.

But such action comes at considerable cost to the tax payer, and environmental officers are urging anyone who witnessed the fly-tipping to come forward in a bid to catch and prosecute the culprit.

An EHDC spokesman said: “Due to the vast amount of waste which was dumped, it is possible someone might have witnessed this taking place or have some idea where it came from.

“We take fly-tipping seriously and if we can trace the perpetrators we will prosecute.”

Anyone with information should e-mail EHDC environmental enforcement officer Sonja Reames at [email protected].