A huge pile of discarded glass, metal and patio furniture has been dumped at the entrance to a woodland – the third case of fly-tipping in two months.

Mark Etherington was walking his dog when he stumbled upon the rubbish in Barnets Wood, next to Powdermill Lane in Southborough.

He posted a picture online and described how it was made up of a mixture of tree cuttings and a large amount of general waste including metal and broken glass.

Patio furniture was also dotted around the area.

Mark explained the area was becoming a hotspot for fly-tipping, having seen two previous piles of waste in the last two months.

The first, he said, was dumped a couple of months ago and was burnt, leaving behind springs which may have come from a mattress or a sofa.

The second lot was in a similar area a couple of weeks later.

“Fly-tipping and littering are a scourge on our borough’s communities and environment...”

Mark has not yet contacted the local authorities but Tunbridge Wells Borough Council said it had been aware of fly-tipping at nearby Brokes Wood.

Cllr Ellen Neville, cabinet member for environmental services, said: “Fly-tipping and littering are a scourge on our borough’s communities and environment.

“It is a criminal activity that can cause serious pollution, can be a risk to human health and can harm wildlife and farm animals. It spoils our local neighbourhoods and quality of life. It is seen as a major problem by more than three-quarters of landowners and affects 67% of farmers.

“Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has a dedicated Street Scene team who clear, investigate and prosecute on sufficient evidence. This comes as a growing financial strain on shrinking resources.”