MORE than 120 tonnes of waste have been dumped in the countryside near Kingsclere.

Officers from the Environment Agency received reports that giant heaps of waste had been fly tipped on land near the village of Wolverton on July 31.

The industrial size heaps of processed waste included materials a range of different plastic items.

Crime officers from the Environment Agency arrested a 57-year-old man from Uxbridge in connection with the incident.

A spokesperson from the Environment Agency said: “Our crime officers have questioned a 57-year-old man from Uxbridge in north-west London in connection with a major fly-tip near Kingsclere in Hampshire.

“The Environment Agency was contacted after around 120 tonnes of shredded waste was found on private land near the village of Wolverton, close to the A339, on Wednesday, 31 July.

“Hampshire Police later released the man pending further investigation.”

This arrest comes after 35 other cases of significant fly-tipping in Hampshire and across southern England earlier this year.

This led to the arrest of a 44-year-old man from Maidenhead, who is currently on bail as part of that investigation.

The Environment Agency is currently following lines of enquiry as to whether this latest incident of fly tipping is related to the dumped waste which was found in Upton Grey and Long Sutton in May this year.

Emma Viner, area enforcement manager for the Environment Agency, said: “Waste criminals put both the environment and local communities at risk with their reckless actions.

“The Environment Agency is determined to bring culprits to justice.”

Anyone with information on the incident, or seen people or vehicles acting suspiciously should contact the Environment Agency on 0800 807060, quoting 01724601.