BRADFORD Council needs to review how it deals with the "massive issue" of fly-tipping, a leading councillor has claimed.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland was speaking after rubbish - including mattresses, toilet basins, windows and doors - was dumped at a beauty spot in Thackley creating a "complete mess."

Diane Lee, who lives nearby, said the fly-tipping, on Ainsbury Avenue, looked like a "house clearance."

"It's annoying. It keeps getting topped up.

"It's been all over the road as well. Over this last week, rubbish has been dumped there every day," said the 52-year-old of Keepers Fold, Thackley.

"They are not even bothered where they put it."

The fly-tipping has been reported to the local authority by Cllr Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley).

"It's just a mess there and has been going on for months," she said.

"It's a beautiful place. It's looked after by volunteers.

"The council need to look at their own policy. Fly-tipping has become a massive issue, it is an illegal activity.

"It's been going on for months in Ainsbury Avenue. It's happening everywhere across the district."

Cllr Sunderland, who is leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bradford Council, said people could also help.

"Residents need to ask for a receipt for anyone that gets somebody on their doorstep who says they can take their rubbish away," she said.

"The public can play their part in preventing fly-tipping from taking place."

Cllr Sunderland wants the council to review its policies on what can be collected from residents' homes and what can be disposed of at tips.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We have met with Cllr Sunderland to discuss her concerns about the number of incidences of fly-tipping on this unadopted road.

"We are looking at ways that we can deter fly-tipping and at what enforcement action we can take on this site.

"We want to make people aware of how rogue waste collectors operate.

"If you use someone who doesn't have a licence and that waste is fly-tipped, it is the resident who faces prosecution which could lead to a fine of up to £5,000."

Cllr Sunderland has also asked the Environment Agency to review its waste carriers' licence scheme for household waste and recycling centres in the district.

People must register if their businesses buys, sells or disposes of waste, or arranges for someone else to do so.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: "We carry out spot checks on vehicles which appear to be carrying waste, in partnership with the police and HM Revenue and Customs in order to identify whether the drivers have the appropriate licences in place."