FLY tipping is worse now than it has ever been in one beauty spot village, according to its council chairman. Compton Bishop has seen a surge of dumping in the last month. The problem has grown too big for litter picking volunteers and Sedgemoor District

FLY tipping is worse now than it has ever been in one beauty spot village, according to its council chairman.Compton Bishop has seen a surge of dumping in the last month. The problem has grown too big for litter picking volunteers and Sedgemoor District Council is being urged to take action.A stretch of verge in Webbington Road within feet of where many motorists park to walk Crook Peak and take in views of the Somerset Levels has been turned into an eyesore.Dozens of carrier bags packed with household waste, pet-food cans, take-away snack containers, cans, bottles and old newspapers have been left there along with old tyres, wheels and rolls of carpet. Another badly affected area is the foot of the disused North Quarry in Barton Road where at least eight trailer-loads of builder's rubble have been dumped.Many roadside hedgerows are also badly littered with the verges along the A38 at Cross especially untidy.An old pallet and load of demolition material has been left in Cross Lane near the junction with the main road.Council chairman Ian Tabret said: "The problem has got much worse than it has ever been before in the last month or so. "Clearly someone or several people are using the parish as a dumping ground and it's totally irresponsible."In the past, councillors have organised successful litter-picking patrols. But at a recent meeting they agreed the situation is now too serious for volunteers to tackle.The council is asking Sedgemoor to take urgent action. It is also looking into the detail of the Government's new Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act.The act allows councils to issue fixed penalty notices for littering, graffiti, fly-posting and dog-fouling offences.However, the council fears the legislation could prove too expensive for a small parish.