FLY-TIPPERS have been branded “absolutely disgraceful” after defacing a countryside beauty spot.

Duncan Priestley spotted this pile of rubbish dumped in woods off Blackburn Road, in Dunscar, while he was out walking on Saturday.

The 56-year-old, of Bromley Cross, said: “I saw it when my wife and I were out walking through the area near the golf course.

“We do a lot of walking and there is an awful lot of litter and fly-tipping in the places we go to.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw this and it seems to be happening all over the north of Bolton.

“I don’t know what sort of mindless people would do it. We have got to wise up and if we don’t then this area is going to be ruined.

“I wasn’t brought up to do that kind of thing and I don’t know who would be.

“The situation seems to be getting worse as the months and years go by and I think people need to know about this.”

Local councillors have joined residents’ calls for a crackdown on fly-tippers in order to protect the area’s countryside.

Bromley Cross councillor, Norman Critchley, said: “It is a very important and beautiful area and I just don’t understand the motivations of people who would deface it.

“I think it is absolutely disgraceful and the sooner we can start catching more of these people the better.

“Fly-tipping has not been a big problem for us in the past, but in Bromley Cross we have lots of private individuals who go around and clean up the area.

“It is an area of special significance up there and I don’t know why on Earth people would want to degrade an area like that.

“I just feel so disappointed because people here are very, very proud of where they live.”