A beauty spot in Richmond was blighted by fly-tipping yesterday morning.

People enjoying a morning walk alongside the Thames at Petersham Meadows spotted piles of rubbish, including mattresses, a wheelie bin and planks of wood, at the end of River Lane at about 9am on Monday, October 20.

Sanjit Vallance, of Richmond Hill, said she alerted environmental health to the rubbish dumping but said she believed it should be a police matter.

She said: "Somebody has dumped that with such an immoral view point.

"It is the most beautiful part of Richmond. It is such an insult to everyone who lives here.

"There needs to be a co-ordination [between environmental health and the police] in such extreme examples of fly-tipping. They need to work together."

A Richmond Council spokesman, said: “As soon as this was reported to the council by the Richmond and Twickenham Times the council took immediate action and the rubbish was removed. Not only does fly-tipping damage the environment, it is also a crime that can lead to large fines or imprisonment.

“It is vital to report incidents of fly-tipping as soon as possible so the Council can investigate and clear the waste.”

People who see a fly-tip in progress, are asked to call police on 999, providing the registration details of any vehicle involved.

If you have any information regarding a fly-tipping incident in Richmond and would like to speak to a member of the street environment enforcement team in confidence, call 020 8891 1411.