THE Environment Agency was called in to investigate after ramblers enjoying a walk across the Powick Hams found household rubbish dumped there.

The substantial heap included tins of paint, which could have polluted the water course after being tipped underneath Carrington Bridge on Temeside Way.

"It was a bit of an eyesore. Someone must have backed a lorry down the slipway to tip it there," said Jo Walker, of Powick Parish Ramblers.

"It looked like someone's house clearance, because it included a three piece suite, three different cupboards, a mattress, cooking stove, child's desk, toys, board games and paper Christmas decorations."

She informed Worcestershire County Council and a council officer referred the matter to the Environment Agency because of the paint.

An agency spokesman said an officer had checked the site and begun investigations into how and why the waste got there.

Thomas Hawkins, of Manor Farm, which includes land on both sides of Temeside Way, said it was amazing what rubbish was thrown out of cars.

"As well as the usual cans and packets, white goods such as fridges and washing machines are just rolled down the embankment and left for others to pick out of the ditches," he said.

"The law on fly tipping is extremely onerous for land owners, because if it is on our side of the fence we have to take the time to remove it and pay for its disposal.

In this case, rubbish had been dumped on the slipway, which was the responsibility of Worcester City Council and would be removed by them, he said.

Mr Hawkins added that there was a continuing problem in Powick with people dumping rubbish on his land at the bottom of the churchyard, where there had been a tip 20 years ago.

"There are some who overlook the fact that it has been closed for many years and still dump stuff down there," he said.

One of the ramblers who first spotted the rubbish on the Hams, Pat Ash, is also worried about the general litter problem in the parish.

She has written to Powick Parish Council asking for more litter bins in the Highfields and Bow Hill areas of Callow End, where she says the hedges and gutters are full of bags, tins and bottles.