Derbyshire mum's disgust after fly-tippers dump used needles in wood close to school

Amie Williams, a mum of one, who goes horse riding through Monkey Hollows between Clay Cross and Tupton, raised concerns about the wood after finding a large amount of fly-tipped material there.

The 21-year-old stay at home mum who lives on Stollard Street, Clay Cross, said she first spotted the rubbish a few weeks ago in the woods.

However, she said more has been added since she reported it to North East Derbyshire District Council.

Items dumped in the wood includes children's clothes, flooring and black bin bags full of rubbish.

She said: "I spotted it a few weeks ago and I went down yesterday and it has got even worse.

"It is disgusting really.

"The wood is tucked away, the fly-tippers probably think no one goes down there.

"They are just people who can't be bothered to take it elsewhere."

She also added that one of her main concerns was children "picking the needles up" in the woods near to Tupton Hall School.

She said: "Children use it as a cut through to and from school and dog walkers also use it.

"It needs to be cleaned up."

Councillor Martin Thacker MBE, Leader of North East Derbyshire District Council said: “Thank you to the resident for bringing this to our attention. I can confirm that the needles, syringes and foils have been removed as they presented a risk to human health. We are now investigating whether the footpaths\tracks are on private land as the removal of the general fly-tipped waste will be the land owners’ responsibility.

“In cases such as this, the council’s advice is not to pick anything up, report it to us immediately, together with a photograph of the rubbish if possible, so we can carry out the necessary health and safety checks, investigate who owns the land and ensure the rubbish is dealt with as quickly as possible. The council will take necessary enforcement action which may include prosecution.”