RESIDENTS are calling for action to clear "appalling" rubbish from the River Brit.

Michael Jones spotted the fly tipping, which included a sofa and bicycles, close to Bridport Bus Station.

He said: "It's a disgusting thing to see anywhere.

"It's not the first time things have been dumped there and I'm sure it won't be the last."

Another local resident said: "It's quite an eye-sore.

"I have never seen furniture dumped in there. There is a bike abandoned. It is always filthy there and there is always rubbish left there. There is no excuse for this kind of thing and I hope something is done to get ride of it."

A spokesman for Bridport Town Council said it would take up the issues with the Environment Agency.

Monika Maage (corr) described the fly tipping as "appalling".

She said: "After I took my car to the garage, on my way back passing the little river behind the Dreadnought Estate, I couldn't believe my eyes.

"It's absolutely appalling seeing that. A shame on the people who did that."

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said it would not deal with this type of incident unless "it posed a serious flood risk or pollution risk".

He said: "Normally, the responsibility for removing such waste falls to the riparian owner.

"The agency is more concerned with tackling large scale environmental crime, such as the illegal disposal of large quantities of potentially harmful or toxic waste."

West Dorset District Council said it can prosecute anyone caught fly tipping.

Cllr Alan Thacker, the district council’s executive portfolio holder for community safety and access, said: “We are aware of this incident and are finding out who the landowner is to get it removed.

“Fly tipping is something the council takes seriously and those caught can be prosecuted.

“I encourage all residents who notice any cases of fly-tipping to report them to us at dorsetforyou.com/flytipping providing as much detail as possible.”