Fly-tippers have dumped what is believed to be asbestos at a village’s nature reserve.

Volunteer litter-picker Deborah Rowe says she was shocked to find the corrugated sheeting at Burham Down.

The 66-year-old says she thinks it is asbestos, a hazardous material.

It has been left off the byway between the village of Burham and Common Lane on top of the Downs.

“It’s just been thrown into the woods,” she added.

The Blue Bell Hill resident says she has been picking up rubbish for years on her dog walks but not seen anything like it before.

“We’re dealing with fly-tips all the time, wherever we walk – I take a litter picker with me and bags.

“I’ve been picking up litter for the past 20 years but I’ve never seen asbestos – I was shocked.”

Deborah says she believes it has been dumped by someone doing a garden clearance for somebody else.

Tiles and slates has also been fly-tipped.

“I know how difficult it is to get rid of asbestos – they [professionals] have to come in all their white gear and it all has to be specially wrapped and very carefully dealt with.

“As soon as I saw it I thought ‘Well that’s going to be difficult’. I don’t know how long it's going to be before it’s removed.”

Tonbridge and Malling council confirmed it had received a report which was forwarded to its waste services officer and enforcement contractor to ask them to advise when a visit and action should be taken.

A spokesman said: “The visit should take place within a couple of days of the report being received.

“The fly-tip appears to be on private land adjacent to the byway but this will be confirmed once an officer has visited.”